Urology Coding Alert

Question: A male patient underwent surgery involving the excision of a perineal fistulous tract and a male sling/mesh removal. The perineal mesh removal codes are all female connected and this is a male patient. Can I submit a foreign body removal code for the mesh removal?

Washington Subscriber

Answer: You should not report a foreign body removal code for this sling/mesh removal. Instead, report 53442 (Removal or revision of sling for male urinary incontinence [e.g., fascia or synthetic]). Then, report 11042 (Debridement; skin, and subcutaneous tissue) for the excision of the fistulous tract. If your payer requires it, append modifier 51 (Multiple procedures) to indicate that there were two separate procedures.