Question

What CPT® and ICD-10-CM codes are reported for a 78-year-old patient with bilateral, lower lobe lung cancer who has been in the hospital for seven days with a tunneled chest tube in place to drain fluid from the pleural space? The chest tube was removed due to a very bad infection at the insertion site and a new sterile chest tube was inserted between the 5th and 6th intercostal space on the left side to continue fluid drainage.

Answer 1

The CPT code for the chest tube procedure is 32551, the ICD-10-CM code for the infection is T85.79XA, and the code for bilateral, lower lobe lung cancer is C34.92.

Step-by-step explanation:

The appropriate CPT® code for the removal of the infected chest tube as well as the insertion of a new sterile chest tube is likely 32551, which is for tube thoracostomy, includes connection to drainage system (when performed), open (separate procedure). Since the question specifies that the procedure was necessary due to infection, the corresponding ICD-10-CM code for the infection would be T85.79XA, Infection and inflammatory reaction due to other internal prosthetic devices, implants, and grafts, initial encounter. Furthermore, the primary diagnosis of bilateral, lower lobe lung cancer would be coded as C34.92, Malignant neoplasm of the lower lobe, unspecified bronchus or lung, since it affects both sides.