Summary & Overview
CPT 38308: Incision/Drainage to Improve Lymph Flow or Treat Lymph Node Infection
CPT code 38308 codes for surgical incision or other procedures performed to improve lymph flow or to drain infection of a lymph node or lymphatic channels. Nationally, this code represents a focused operative intervention for lymphatic system infections or obstructive lymph flow that can affect patient recovery and downstream care utilization. The code matters for hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and outpatient surgical practices due to implications for procedure authorization, surgical coding accuracy, and quality reporting.
Key payers in the scope of this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical intent and common sites of service, plus coverage and billing context relevant to major national payers. The publication outlines expected service line placement, typical clinical scenarios that justify the procedure, and how the code integrates with surgical documentation and claim submission workflows.
The article presents benchmarks and policy-related considerations for coding and billing this surgical drainage/incision service, highlights common modifiers and coding practices where available, and summarizes potential areas for payer scrutiny. Where input data is incomplete, the report identifies areas labeled "Data not available in the input." This resource is intended as a national-level reference to inform coding, billing, and administrative stakeholders about the clinical and payment context of CPT code 38308.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 38308 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider incises or performs other procedures to improve lymph flow or to drain infection of a lymph node or the lymphatic channels. This service is a surgical lymphatic drainage or lymph node incision/drainage procedure.
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Service type: Surgical procedure to restore or improve lymphatic flow and to drain infected lymph nodes or lymphatic channels
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Typical site of service: Operative settings such as hospital operating room, ambulatory surgical center, or procedure room where minor to moderate surgical drainage or incision can be performed
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult presenting with a tender, swollen regional lymph node or localized lymphangitic infection after skin trauma or insect bite. The patient often has fever, erythema, fluctuance, and limited lymphatic drainage despite antibiotic therapy. Initial evaluation includes history, focused physical exam, ultrasound to assess abscess versus cellulitis, and laboratory studies (CBC, inflammatory markers). When imaging or clinical exam demonstrates a localized suppurative lymph node or obstructed lymphatic channel not responding to conservative care, the surgeon schedules a minor operative procedure under local, regional, or general anesthesia depending on size and patient factors. The procedure, reported with 38308, involves incision and drainage or other interventions (eg, excision of part of node capsule, creation of drainage channels) to restore lymph flow or drain infection. Intraoperative steps include targeted incision, evacuation of purulent material, debridement of necrotic tissue, irrigation, placement of drain if needed, and hemostasis. Postoperative workflow includes wound care instructions, possible drain management, short course antibiotics guided by culture, pain control, and follow-up for wound healing and reassessment of lymphatic function. Typical sites of service are outpatient ambulatory surgery centers, hospital outpatient departments, or inpatient operating rooms for complex infections. Common patient scenarios include persistent axillary or inguinal lymphadenitis with abscess, lymphatic channel obstruction with cellulitis, or focal infected lymph node requiring operative drainage after failed medical therapy.
Coding Specifications
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