Urology Coding Alert
Shunt Drainage Points to Best Priapism Code
Question: What are the best surgical codes for priapism? I don’t understand how to differentiate the possible choices. Virginia Subscriber Answer: You should consider one of the following three codes for the treatment of priapism: The primary difference is the location to where the shunt drains. More explanation: In the work associated with code 54420, the surgeon creates a shunt between the corpus cavernosa and the saphenous vein. With code 54430, he creates the shunt between the corpus cavernosa and the corpora spongiosum. With 54435, he creates a shunt between the glans penis (corpus spongiosum) and the corpus cavernosum. You should be able to delineate these in the operative note by determining where the shunt is made and seeing if the physician mentions shunting into the vein or corporus spongiosum.
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