Summary & Overview
CPT 50500: Suture Repair of Kidney Wound
CPT code 50500 represents surgical repair of a kidney wound — a targeted operative procedure in which the provider performs suturing to close renal lacerations or operative incisions. Nationally, this code captures an acute surgical service with implications for hospital billing, surgical quality reporting, and trauma or urology care pathways. Payers commonly involved in coverage decisions for this service include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for CPT code 50500, typical sites of service, and the types of surgical scenarios where the code applies. The publication summarizes billing and reimbursement benchmarks where available, highlights relevant policy considerations for payers and facilities, and situates the code within operative service-line management. Data not available in the input will be noted as such. This summary is intended for a national audience of clinicians, coding professionals, and payer policy analysts seeking a clear reference for the clinical purpose and administrative use of CPT code 50500.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 50500 describes the surgical repair in which the provider sutures a kidney wound. This procedure is a surgical service focused on direct closure of renal injury or an operative renal incision.
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Service type: Surgical repair
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or inpatient surgical suite
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult who sustains a penetrating or blunt renal injury (for example, from a motor vehicle collision, a fall, or a stab wound) presenting to the emergency department with flank pain, hematuria, hypotension, or expanding retroperitoneal hematoma. Initial evaluation includes vital signs, focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST), contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen and pelvis to grade renal injury, type and amount of hemorrhage, and associated injuries. Patients with deep cortical lacerations, active extravasation, or a renal wound that is not amenable to conservative management proceed to the operating room or interventional suite. The operative workflow for 50500 involves general anesthesia, retroperitoneal or transperitoneal exposure of the kidney, identification of the wound or laceration, hemostasis, and direct suture repair of the renal parenchymal laceration or capsule. Irrigation and inspection for urinary extravasation are performed; ureteral catheterization or stent placement may be done if collecting system repair is required. Postoperative care includes hemodynamic monitoring, serial hematocrits, urine output assessment, pain control, and imaging follow-up as indicated. Typical sites of service are the hospital operating room, emergency department procedure area, or trauma center operating suite. Service type: Surgical, open renal wound repair (suture of kidney wound).
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 |