Summary & Overview
CPT 47620: Cholecystectomy with Common Bile Duct Exploration and Sphincter Repair
CPT code 47620 represents cholecystectomy with exploration of the common bile duct and repair of the sphincter of Oddi, a procedure used to remove the gallbladder and address biliary tract obstruction or dysfunction. This code is clinically significant because it combines gallbladder removal with definitive management of common duct pathology, often involving intraoperative imaging to locate stones or ductal injury. Nationally, this procedure affects surgical, radiology, and inpatient reimbursement pathways and is relevant to hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and payers managing complex biliary care.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The content that follows explains clinical context, site-of-service implications, and typical billing considerations for CPT code 47620.
Readers will learn the clinical scope of the code, typical settings where the service is performed, and the types of benchmarks and policy considerations relevant to coverage and reimbursement. Where available, the publication presents utilization and payment benchmarks, common modifiers, coding relationships, and policy updates that affect surgical management of biliary disease. Data not available in the input is noted explicitly where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 47620 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider removes the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) and performs exploration of the common bile duct with repair of the sphincter of Oddi. The description notes potential use of intraoperative contrast injection and fluoroscopic imaging to visualize the biliary ducts.
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Service type: Surgical procedure involving cholecystectomy with common bile duct exploration and sphincteroplasty (open or potentially laparoscopic-assisted surgery depending on clinical approach)
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgery center, with intraoperative imaging (radiology/fluoroscopy) support
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 45–70 year-old adult presenting with symptomatic gallbladder disease (e.g., recurrent biliary colic, acute cholecystitis) with suspected or confirmed common bile duct stones or dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi. The clinical workflow begins with outpatient evaluation including history, physical exam, liver function tests, abdominal ultrasound and, when indicated, MRCP or endoscopic ultrasound demonstrating choledocholithiasis or biliary dilation. The patient is scheduled for an operative procedure under general anesthesia: an open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy combined with common bile duct exploration and sphincteroplasty as needed. Intraoperative cholangiography may be performed by injecting contrast dye and obtaining fluoroscopic imaging to identify ductal stones or anatomy. If stones are present, the surgeon removes them via duct exploration or passes them into the duodenum after sphincteroplasty. The sphincter of Oddi is repaired or dilated to restore bile flow. Postoperative care includes monitoring liver function tests, pain control, and assessment for bile leak or pancreatitis. Typical sites of service are the inpatient operating room or ambulatory surgical center when clinically appropriate. Common payors include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, BUCA, and Medicare.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Default or no modifier | Rarely used; indicates no special modifier applies when payer requires a two-digit default |