Summary & Overview
CPT 31631: Bronchoscopic Tracheal Stent Placement with Dilation
Headline: CPT code 31631: Bronchoscopic Tracheal Stent Placement with Possible Dilation
Lead: CPT code 31631 covers bronchoscopic placement of one or more stents into a narrowed tracheal segment, often following dilation of the stenosis; the procedure may use rigid or flexible bronchoscopy and can be performed with fluoroscopic guidance. The code matters nationally because airway stenting is a critical, potentially life-saving intervention for tracheal obstruction from benign or malignant causes, with implications for hospital capability, reimbursement patterns, and access to interventional pulmonology.
This analysis addresses common national payers — Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare — and summarizes clinical context, coding considerations, and expected service settings. Readers will find a concise clinical description of the service, the typical site of service and service type, common modifiers and payer considerations (where available), and an outline of what to expect in coverage and billing workflows. The report highlights benchmarks and policy developments relevant to advanced airway interventions, and it provides the clinical framing needed for coding accuracy, appropriate claims submission, and alignment with facility capabilities. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 31631 describes bronchoscopic placement of one or more stents in a narrowed segment of the trachea. The procedure is performed via rigid or flexible bronchoscopy to visualize the airway; fluoroscopic guidance may be used. If necessary, the clinician may perform dilation of the stenotic segment before placing the stent.
Service type: Therapeutic interventional bronchoscopic procedure (airway stent placement, with possible dilation)
Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center (procedure performed in a procedural suite with bronchoscopy capability)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old male with a history of smoking and prior head and neck radiation presents with progressive dyspnea, stridor, and cough. Imaging (CT chest) and bronchoscopy demonstrate a symptomatic tracheal stenosis measuring 60% lumen compromise just below the vocal cords. The interventional pulmonologist schedules a bronchoscopy with possible dilation and placement of an endoluminal tracheal stent to restore airway patency. The procedure is performed in an operating room or outpatient endoscopy suite under general anesthesia with flexible or rigid bronchoscopy; fluoroscopic guidance may be used. The team documents pre-procedure airway assessment, informed consent, anesthesia type, intraprocedural findings (location and length of stenosis), any dilation maneuvers, stent model/size, stent placement verification (endoscopic and/or fluoroscopic), and post-procedure respiratory status and disposition. Postoperative orders include chest radiograph to confirm stent position, pulse oximetry monitoring, and follow-up bronchoscopy scheduling for surveillance or stent adjustment.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Normal or uncomplicated service | Use when the bronchoscopy with stent placement is performed without unusual procedural difficulty beyond typical expectations. |
22 |