Urology Coding Alert

Question: If the urologist is called to the OR to intra-operatively place a Foley catheter when an orthopedic surgeon performing a hip replacement is unable to do so, do I ever need to use the diagnosis for the hip replacement in my coding for the urologist?

Florida Subscriber

Answer: No, you should not use the diagnosis for the hip replacement procedure. Instead, you should use the diagnosis or reason for the difficult catheterization. Your choices might include the following:

• Urethral stricture -- 598.9, Urethral stricture unspecified
• Bladder neck contracture -- 596.0, Bladder neck obstruction
• Urinary retention -- 788.20, Retention of urine unspecified.