CPT code 38381 represents surgical repair of the thoracic duct via a chest approach, typically by sternotomy or thoracotomy. The procedure is most often performed for penetrating chest trauma or other causes of thoracic duct disruption that produce chyle leaks, and it is a specialized thoracic surgical intervention with implications for inpatient surgical workflow and postoperative care. Nationally, thoracic duct repair is an infrequent but clinically significant procedure due to its role in resolving chyle leak–related morbidity and prolonged hospitalization.

Key payers relevant to coverage and reimbursement considerations include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The code is typically billed for hospital-based operative encounters in an operating room setting and is associated with thoracic surgery service lines.

Readers will find a concise summary of the clinical context for the procedure, typical site-of-service expectations, and an outline of common billing modifiers provided in the input. The publication offers benchmarks where available, notes on coding and billing context, and policy or payer considerations that affect coverage and claim adjudication. Data not provided in the input—such as specific ICD-10 diagnosis pairings, payer-specific reimbursement rates, and associated taxonomies—is identified as unavailable.