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CPT 43755: Gastric Tube Insertion with Gastric Secretion Collection

CPT code 43755 represents a diagnostic gastrointestinal procedure in which a gastric tube is inserted, a stimulant is administered to induce gastric acid secretion, and multiple gastric fluid specimens are obtained for laboratory analysis. This test is used to evaluate gastric acid production and can inform diagnosis and management of conditions that affect gastric secretory function. Nationally, procedures that assess gastric physiology remain important for distinguishing causes of dyspepsia, gastric acid hypersecretion, and other acid-related disorders.

Key payers covered in this overview include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical description of the service, typical sites of service, common billing modifiers (listed separately), and the context needed to interpret billing and coding for this procedure. The publication summarizes expected use cases, outlines where this procedure is commonly performed, and provides benchmarks and policy-related considerations relevant to third-party payers and Medicare. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 43755 describes insertion of a gastric tube with administration of a stimulant to provoke gastric acid secretion and collection of multiple gastric fluid specimens for laboratory analysis. The procedure involves placement of a tube into the stomach, stimulation of acid production, and aspiration of gastric secretions for diagnostic testing.

Service type: Diagnostic gastrointestinal procedure involving gastric aspiration and secretion testing
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgical center; may also be performed in an inpatient setting if clinically indicated

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CPT 43755: Gastric Tube Insertion with Gastric Secretion Collection

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Diagnostic gastrointestinal procedure involving gastric aspiration and secretion testing
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgical center; may also be performed in an inpatient setting if clinically indicated

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 45-year-old outpatient with chronic upper abdominal pain and suspected hypochlorhydria is referred for diagnostic gastric analysis. The gastroenterologist performs placement of a nasogastric or orogastric tube, administers a gastric stimulant (commonly pentagastrin or equivalent) to provoke acid secretion, and collects timed gastric aspirates through the tube. Multiple specimens are obtained and sent to the laboratory for volume, pH, and acid concentration analysis to evaluate gastric acid secretory function and guide management for conditions such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, chronic gastritis, or unexplained dyspepsia. The procedure typically occurs in an outpatient endoscopy or gastroenterology suite, or an inpatient hospital ward for patients admitted with relevant symptoms. The clinical workflow includes informed consent, tube insertion with position confirmation, administration of the stimulant, serial aspiration and specimen labeling, documentation of volumes and times, sending specimens to the laboratory, and post-procedure monitoring for tolerance and complications such as epistaxis, aspiration, or tube malposition.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`11`	Main physician or other qualified health care professional service	Use when the reporting provider is the primary surgeon or performing physician for the procedure
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when the service required substantially greater work than typically required
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances
`59`	Distinct procedural service (Note: not in provided list)	Data not available in the input.
`26`	Professional component	Use when reporting only the professional component of a service (interpretation/documentation) — limited applicability
`TC`	Technical component	Use when reporting only the technical component (equipment, staff) — limited applicability
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when multiple procedures are performed the same day by the same provider
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician (Note: not in provided list)	Data not available in the input.
`78`	Return to operating room for a related procedure during global period	Use when an unplanned return to OR occurs for a related procedure during the global period

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207VG0400X`	Gastroenterology	Gastroenterologists most commonly perform gastric analysis and tube placement
`207L00000X`	Surgery	General surgeons may perform tube placement in inpatient or operative settings
`363LA2200X`	Clinical Laboratory Director	Oversees laboratory analysis of the gastric specimens
`2084P0800X`	Critical Care Medicine	May perform or manage procedure in critically ill inpatients
`208000000X`	Internal Medicine	Hospitalists or internists may place tubes or order testing and supervise care

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`K21.9`	Gastro-esophageal reflux disease without esophagitis	Assessed when acid secretion abnormalities may contribute to reflux symptoms
`K29.70`	Gastritis, unspecified, without bleeding	Chronic gastritis can alter acid secretion; testing helps characterize function
`K25.9`	Gastric ulcer, unspecified as acute or chronic, without hemorrhage or perforation	Ulcer disease may prompt evaluation of gastric acid secretion
`E16.2`	Hypoglycemia, unspecified (Note: metabolic effects)	Not a primary indication but metabolic symptoms may prompt broad GI evaluation
`R10.10`	Upper abdominal pain, unspecified	Common presenting symptom that may lead to gastric secretion testing
`R19.7`	Diarrhea, unspecified	Secretory diarrheas or malabsorption syndromes sometimes evaluated with gastric testing
`E16.8`	Other disturbances of pancreatic secretion (Note: limited relation)	Data not directly linked but occasionally considered in complex secretory evaluations

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`43239`	Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, flexible, diagnostic, including collection of specimen(s) by brushing or washing, when performed (separate procedure)	May be performed before or after gastric analysis to evaluate mucosa and obtain biopsy if structural disease is suspected
`43752`	Gastric emptying study (By scintigraphy), four hours	May be ordered in parallel when assessing gastric function and motility alongside acid secretory testing
`44380`	Insertion of nasogastric or nasoenteric tube, less than one month	Related to the mechanical placement of a tube required for gastric aspiration when an enteric tube is placed in a different setting
`81002`	Urinalysis, by dipstick or tablet reagent for bilirubin, glucose, ketones, etc. (non-microscopic)	Not directly related but commonly ordered as part of the pre-procedure workup and monitoring
`99000`	Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer from office to laboratory (when applicable)	Used for billing ancillary specimen handling or courier services related to processing the gastric secretions

CPT 43752: Nasogastric or Orogastric Tube Placement for Gastric Aspiration

CPT-43753-GASTRIC-INTUBATION-WITH-LAVAGE

CPT 43753: Gastric Intubation with Lavage

CPT-43754-DIAGNOSTIC-GASTRIC-LAVAGE-SPECIMEN-COLLECTION

CPT 43754: Diagnostic Gastric Lavage with Specimen Collection

CPT-43756-PROCEDURE-43756

CPT 43756: Clinical Procedure 43756

CPT-43757-GASTROINTESTINAL-SURGICAL-PROCEDURE

CPT 43757: Gastrointestinal Surgical Procedure

CPT-43761-NASOGASTRIC-OR-OROGASTRIC-DUODENAL-FEEDING-TUBE-PLACEMENT

CPT 43761: Nasogastric/Orogastric Tube Placement to Duodenum

CPT-43762-GASTROSTOMY-TUBE-REMOVAL-AND-REPLACEMENT

CPT 43762: Gastrostomy Tube Removal and Replacement

CPT-43763-GASTROSTOMY-TUBE-REVISION-AND-REPLACEMENT

CPT 43763: Revision and Replacement of Gastrostomy Tube without Imaging Guidance

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`11`	Main physician or other qualified health care professional service	Use when the reporting provider is the primary surgeon or performing physician for the procedure
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when the service required substantially greater work than typically required
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances
`59`	Distinct procedural service (Note: not in provided list)	Data not available in the input.
`26`	Professional component	Use when reporting only the professional component of a service (interpretation/documentation) — limited applicability
`TC`	Technical component	Use when reporting only the technical component (equipment, staff) — limited applicability
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when multiple procedures are performed the same day by the same provider
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician (Note: not in provided list)	Data not available in the input.
`78`	Return to operating room for a related procedure during global period	Use when an unplanned return to OR occurs for a related procedure during the global period

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207VG0400X`	Gastroenterology	Gastroenterologists most commonly perform gastric analysis and tube placement
`207L00000X`	Surgery	General surgeons may perform tube placement in inpatient or operative settings
`363LA2200X`	Clinical Laboratory Director	Oversees laboratory analysis of the gastric specimens
`2084P0800X`	Critical Care Medicine	May perform or manage procedure in critically ill inpatients
`208000000X`	Internal Medicine	Hospitalists or internists may place tubes or order testing and supervise care

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`K21.9`	Gastro-esophageal reflux disease without esophagitis	Assessed when acid secretion abnormalities may contribute to reflux symptoms
`K29.70`	Gastritis, unspecified, without bleeding	Chronic gastritis can alter acid secretion; testing helps characterize function
`K25.9`	Gastric ulcer, unspecified as acute or chronic, without hemorrhage or perforation	Ulcer disease may prompt evaluation of gastric acid secretion
`E16.2`	Hypoglycemia, unspecified (Note: metabolic effects)	Not a primary indication but metabolic symptoms may prompt broad GI evaluation
`R10.10`	Upper abdominal pain, unspecified	Common presenting symptom that may lead to gastric secretion testing
`R19.7`	Diarrhea, unspecified	Secretory diarrheas or malabsorption syndromes sometimes evaluated with gastric testing
`E16.8`	Other disturbances of pancreatic secretion (Note: limited relation)	Data not directly linked but occasionally considered in complex secretory evaluations

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`43239`	Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, flexible, diagnostic, including collection of specimen(s) by brushing or washing, when performed (separate procedure)	May be performed before or after gastric analysis to evaluate mucosa and obtain biopsy if structural disease is suspected
`43752`	Gastric emptying study (By scintigraphy), four hours	May be ordered in parallel when assessing gastric function and motility alongside acid secretory testing
`44380`	Insertion of nasogastric or nasoenteric tube, less than one month	Related to the mechanical placement of a tube required for gastric aspiration when an enteric tube is placed in a different setting
`81002`	Urinalysis, by dipstick or tablet reagent for bilirubin, glucose, ketones, etc. (non-microscopic)	Not directly related but commonly ordered as part of the pre-procedure workup and monitoring
`99000`	Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer from office to laboratory (when applicable)	Used for billing ancillary specimen handling or courier services related to processing the gastric secretions

CPT 43752: Nasogastric or Orogastric Tube Placement for Gastric Aspiration

CPT-43753-GASTRIC-INTUBATION-WITH-LAVAGE

CPT 43753: Gastric Intubation with Lavage

CPT-43754-DIAGNOSTIC-GASTRIC-LAVAGE-SPECIMEN-COLLECTION

CPT 43754: Diagnostic Gastric Lavage with Specimen Collection

CPT-43756-PROCEDURE-43756

CPT 43756: Clinical Procedure 43756

CPT-43757-GASTROINTESTINAL-SURGICAL-PROCEDURE

CPT 43757: Gastrointestinal Surgical Procedure

CPT-43761-NASOGASTRIC-OR-OROGASTRIC-DUODENAL-FEEDING-TUBE-PLACEMENT

CPT 43761: Nasogastric/Orogastric Tube Placement to Duodenum

CPT-43762-GASTROSTOMY-TUBE-REMOVAL-AND-REPLACEMENT

CPT 43762: Gastrostomy Tube Removal and Replacement

CPT-43763-GASTROSTOMY-TUBE-REVISION-AND-REPLACEMENT

CPT 43763: Revision and Replacement of Gastrostomy Tube without Imaging Guidance

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

OpenPayer

CPT 43755: Gastric Tube Insertion with Gastric Secretion Collection

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Billing Code Overview

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OpenPayer

CPT 43755: Gastric Tube Insertion with Gastric Secretion Collection

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Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References