Summary & Overview
CPT 31553: Pediatric Laryngoplasty for Laryngeal Stenosis
CPT code 31553 represents a pediatric laryngoplasty: surgical reconstruction of the larynx in children under 12 using a tracheotomy for access, cartilage grafting, and placement of an indwelling stent to correct laryngeal stenosis. This code captures a high-complexity, airway-focused reconstructive procedure performed in operating room settings, typically by pediatric otolaryngology teams. Nationally, accurate use of this code is important for tracking care for congenital and acquired airway narrowing and for appropriate reimbursement of complex pediatric airway surgery.
Key payers covered in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise review of clinical context and service setting, typical payer coverage considerations, and operational benchmarks where available. The publication outlines coding scope, common modifiers (listed separately), and how CPT code 31553 fits within pediatric airway surgical care pathways. It also highlights what is and is not available in the input data: when information such as associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, related codes, or detailed payer-specific coverage rules is missing, the summary notes that those items are not included in the input.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 31553 describes a laryngoplasty procedure performed in a child younger than 12 years. The operation involves using a tracheotomy to access the larynx, dilating and releasing webs as necessary, placing a cartilage graft on the larynx, and inserting an indwelling stent to stabilize the larynx and trachea and to correct laryngeal stenosis (narrowing of the airway).
Service Type: Pediatric laryngeal reconstructive surgery
Typical Site of Service: Hospital operating room or specialized pediatric surgical center
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 9-year-old child with progressive inspiratory stridor and episodes of respiratory distress presents after prior prolonged intubation as a neonate. Endoscopic evaluation demonstrates subglottic and glottic stenosis with scar webbing and partial airway obstruction. Multidisciplinary planning includes pediatric otolaryngology and pediatric anesthesia. The operative plan is a laryngoplasty with cartilage graft placement and indwelling stent insertion accessed through an existing tracheotomy. In the operating room the child undergoes general anesthesia via the tracheostomy tube, endoscopic assessment, dilation and web release as needed, harvest and placement of a cartilage graft to expand the laryngeal framework, and insertion of an indwelling stent to maintain airway patency. Postoperative care involves ventilator management as indicated, tracheostomy tube care, intensive monitoring for airway edema or graft displacement, inpatient observation in a pediatric intensive care unit, and planned outpatient follow-up for stent removal and voice/swallow assessments.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Primary procedure | Use when 31553 is the primary service on the claim. |
22 |