Summary & Overview
CPT 31554: Laryngoplasty with Cartilage Graft and Indwelling Stent
CPT code 31554 denotes a laryngoplasty procedure for patients aged 12 and older that uses a tracheotomy approach to access the larynx, releases webs as needed, places a cartilage graft, and inserts an indwelling stent to correct laryngeal stenosis. This surgical intervention is important nationally because it addresses airway compromise and voice dysfunction from laryngeal narrowing, often requiring specialized surgical teams and postoperative airway management.
Key payers considered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical indications and procedural components of 31554, typical settings where the service is performed, and the payer landscape relevant to coverage and reimbursement practice. The publication also summarizes common modifiers associated with complex surgical billing and highlights areas where policy updates or documentation expectations commonly affect claim adjudication.
This summary equips clinical program leaders, coding professionals, and policy analysts with a clear, national-level overview of CPT code 31554, the clinical context for its use, and the payer environment affecting authorization and payment. Data not available in the input about specific ICD-10 pairings, taxonomies, related codes, and detailed payer-specific coverage rules are noted as unavailable for this release.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 31554 describes a laryngoplasty with cartilage graft and indwelling stent in patients aged 12 years or older. The procedure involves accessing the larynx via a tracheotomy, dilating and releasing any laryngeal webs as needed, placing a cartilage graft on the larynx, and inserting an indwelling stent to stabilize the larynx and trachea and to correct laryngeal stenosis (narrowing).
Service Type: Surgical — Otolaryngology / Head and Neck Surgery
Typical Site of Service: Inpatient or outpatient surgical setting with operating room access; requires facilities capable of tracheotomy care and postoperative airway management.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 45-year-old patient with a history of prolonged intubation presents with progressive stridor, dyspnea on exertion, and voice changes. Diagnostic laryngoscopy and CT imaging confirm mature subglottic and glottic laryngeal stenosis with anterior webbing and airway compromise. The otolaryngology surgical team elects to perform a laryngoplasty with airway reconstruction. Under general anesthesia, a tracheotomy is established to secure and maintain the airway and to provide access to the larynx. The surgeon dilates and releases laryngeal webs as needed, harvests an autologous cartilage graft (typically from the auricle or costal cartilage), places the graft on the laryngeal framework to expand the airway, and inserts an indwelling stent to stabilize the reconstructed larynx and trachea. The procedure is performed in an operating room with endoscopic and open techniques as required. Postoperative care includes stoma and stent care, humidification, antibiotics as indicated, voice rest, and planned stent removal and surveillance endoscopy in the weeks to months following surgery.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Normal visit/initial service | When this procedure is the primary scheduled procedure and no unusual circumstances alter the service. |
22 |