Summary & Overview
CPT 31635: Bronchoscopy With Foreign Body Removal
CPT code 31635 covers rigid or flexible bronchoscopy performed to visualize the airways and remove an airway foreign body with forceps, with optional fluoroscopic guidance. This procedure is clinically significant because airway foreign bodies can cause acute respiratory compromise, infection, and long-term airway damage; timely endoscopic removal is a key therapeutic intervention across inpatient and outpatient surgical settings. National payers commonly reimbursing for this service include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical context for bronchoscopy with foreign body removal, typical sites of service, and common payer coverage considerations. The publication outlines benchmark reimbursement patterns, relevant billing and modifier considerations, and practical coding relationships to other airway and endoscopic procedure codes. It also highlights policy and utilization factors that affect access and payment for bronchoscopic foreign body removal at a national level. Data not available in the input is clearly noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 31635 describes a bronchoscopic procedure in which the clinician performs rigid or flexible bronchoscopy to visualize the airways and remove a foreign body using forceps. Fluoroscopic guidance may or may not be used during the procedure.
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Service type: Diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopic foreign body removal
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room, ambulatory surgery center, or hospital outpatient setting where bronchoscopy and airway procedures are performed
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 6-year-old child presents to the emergency department after sudden onset coughing, wheezing, and localized decreased breath sounds following a suspected aspiration event while eating. Chest radiograph suggests a radiopaque object in the right mainstem bronchus. The pulmonology team and otolaryngology surgeon coordinate care. The patient is evaluated for anesthesia risk and consent is obtained for bronchoscopy with possible foreign body removal. In the operating room under general anesthesia, a provider performs rigid bronchoscopy to visualize the airway; forceps are used to grasp and extract the foreign body. Fluoroscopic guidance may be available but is not required. Post-procedure, the patient is observed in the PACU for airway edema, respiratory status, and potential complications such as bleeding or bronchospasm before discharge or admission for further care.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when work or complexity substantially exceeds typical for 31635 (document specifics). |
52 | Reduced services |