A patient was brought to the OR today for exploratory thoracotomy. Previous x-rays demonstrated a small foreign body in the pleural space. Exploration of the area revealed a small piece of shrapnel from a previous shooting accident. Under general anesthesia, the incision was made into the pleural space and the shrapnel was removed. Select the appropriate CPT and ICD-10-CM codes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct CPT code for the procedure described is 32150, which is for thoracotomy with removal of foreign body. The ICD-10-CM code Z18.89 is for retained foreign body fragments, unspecified part of body, which is appropriate given the shrapnel was a foreign body in the pleural space.

A Patient Was Brought to the OR Today for Exploratory