You Be the Coder:
Is a TURP Always a TURP?
Published on Fri Oct 16, 2009
Question: A patient presented with irritable and obstructive voiding symptons due to calculi embedded in the prostatic urethra and recurrent BPH. The patient had prior electrical vaporization and a TURP for benign disease in February. My doctor performed another TURP to eliminate recurrent obstructive prostatic tissue as well as to remove the prostatic stones. Should I report a TURP code even though the stones were probably the main cause of the obstruction? Indiana Subscriber Answer: Yes, the best code for you to report in this clinical scenario would be the code for transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), which removed both the obstructing prostatic tissue and the prostatic calculi. Since the patient has a history of a prior TURP, you should report 52630 (Transurethral resection; residual or re-growth of obstructive prostate tissue including control of postoperative bleeding, complete [vasectomy, meatotomy, cystourethroscopy, urethral calibration and/or dilation, and internal urethrotomy are included]). [...]
