Summary & Overview
CPT 47610: Cholecystectomy with Common Bile Duct Exploration
CPT code 47610 denotes cholecystectomy with exploration of the common bile duct, a operative procedure performed to treat gallbladder disease and to identify or remove ductal stones. This code matters nationally due to the volume of gallbladder surgeries, implications for perioperative care, and potential downstream costs related to ductal stone management and complications.
Key payers considered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise synthesis of what the code represents clinically, typical sites of service, and common modifiers. The publication outlines benchmarks relevant to utilization and payment patterns, summarizes recent policy updates affecting surgical coding and coverage where applicable, and provides clinical context for when intraoperative common bile duct exploration is documented.
The content is intended for coding professionals, surgical teams, and payer policy analysts seeking a clear reference for documentation and billing considerations. Data not available in the input is indicated where applicable; the focus remains on clarifying clinical intent, service setting, and the scope of procedures captured by CPT code 47610.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 47610 describes a surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) with exploration of the common bile duct to check for stones and ensure free passage of bile. The procedure addresses gallbladder disease by excising the small, pear-shaped organ that stores bile and inspecting the bile duct for obstructions.
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Service type: Open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy with common bile duct exploration (surgical removal of the gallbladder and intraoperative ductal evaluation)
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Typical site of service: Operating room in a hospital or ambulatory surgical center
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 48-year-old female presents with right upper quadrant abdominal pain, intermittent biliary colic, and ultrasound-confirmed cholelithiasis with suspected chronic cholecystitis. After preoperative evaluation including labs and imaging, the patient is scheduled for an open cholecystectomy with common bile duct exploration to remove the gallbladder and inspect the biliary tree for retained stones. The clinical workflow includes preoperative history and physical, informed consent, anesthesia evaluation, intraoperative removal of the gallbladder with exploration of the common bile duct, hemostasis, and postoperative recovery with pain control and discharge planning. Typical site of service is an inpatient or ambulatory surgical center operating room. Service type: major surgical procedure involving the biliary tract, specifically cholecystectomy with common bile duct exploration.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when the procedure required substantially greater work than usual due to increased complexity (extensive adhesions, unusual anatomy). |
23 | Unusual anesthesia | Use when general anesthesia is not administered for a procedure that typically requires it due to patient-specific risks. |