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CPT 51880: Removal of Cystostomy Tube with Bladder Closure

CPT code 51880 represents the surgical removal of a previously placed cystostomy tube with formal closure of the bladder opening. This procedure is performed when a suprapubic tube is no longer needed or when removal with primary bladder closure is clinically indicated. Nationally, accurate coding for this procedure affects surgical quality metrics, hospital and ambulatory surgical center reporting, and appropriate Medicare and commercial payer adjudication. Key payers considered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the procedure, common sites of service, and an overview of typical billing considerations. The publication provides benchmarks for utilization and reimbursement where available, discusses coding nuances relevant to surgical and outpatient settings, and summarizes any notable policy updates that affect coverage and claim processing. The content is intended to inform coding, billing, and surgical teams about the procedural definition and the payer landscape at a national level. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 51880 describes a surgical procedure in which a provider reopens a prior incision to remove an indwelling cystostomy tube and then closes the bladder opening with sutures. This procedure involves removal of a tube previously placed through the abdominal wall into the bladder and definitive closure of the cystostomy site.

Service type: Surgical removal of cystostomy tube with bladder closure
Typical site of service: Operative suite or ambulatory surgical center; may also occur in inpatient hospital settings depending on clinical context

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CPT 51880: Removal of Cystostomy Tube with Bladder Closure

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Get alerted when payer policies referencing 51880 are released or updated.

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Surgical removal of cystostomy tube with bladder closure
Typical site of service: Operative suite or ambulatory surgical center; may also occur in inpatient hospital settings depending on clinical context

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient is an adult who previously required a suprapubic cystostomy for urinary diversion following pelvic trauma, urethral injury, or complex urinary retention. The patient presents for planned removal of the long-term cystostomy tube after definitive repair of the underlying condition or when continued diversion is no longer required. Preoperative evaluation includes history, physical exam, and confirmation of normal bladder healing by cystogram or clinical findings. The procedure is performed in an operating room or procedure suite under monitored anesthesia care or general anesthesia. The surgeon reopens the prior suprapubic incision, removes the existing cystostomy tube, inspects the bladder mucosa and tract, and closes the bladder defect with interrupted or layered sutures. Postoperative care includes urinary monitoring, wound care, short course antibiotics as indicated, and instructions to report fever, leakage, or urinary retention. Typical sites of service are inpatient or outpatient hospital operating rooms, ambulatory surgical centers, or procedure suites depending on patient complexity and anesthesia needs.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	No modifier / default	Rarely used; normally a blank modifier, not typically reported — included in payer list.
`11`	Provider's usual, customary care	Use in systems that require a default professional modifier when no other modifier applies.
`22`	Increased procedural services	When work, time, and complexity substantially exceed usual; e.g., extensive adhesiolysis to access tract.
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	When procedure is performed under general anesthesia solely because of patient condition and local/regional would normally suffice.
`26`	Professional component	Use if billing only professional component separate from facility technical component (rare for this global surgical code).
`52`	Reduced services	When a planned full procedure is partially performed (e.g., minimal closure because tube already migrated).
`53`	Discontinued procedure	If procedure is terminated before completion for extenuating circumstances.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	When a separate, unrelated procedure is performed at a different site or session during same encounter.
`62`	Two surgeons	When another surgeon is required to assist for a distinct portion of the operation.
`78`	Return to OR for related procedure during postoperative period	For unplanned return to OR for complications related to initial closure (e.g., hemorrhage, leakage).
`79`	Unrelated procedure during postoperative period	For an unrelated procedure performed during the global period.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	When an assistant surgeon is billed.
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	When a minimal assistant role is documented and billable.
`AS`	Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist	When a qualified nonphysician practitioner performs or assists per payer rules.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2080P0208X	Urology	Urologists most commonly perform suprapubic tube removals and bladder closure.
2080S0122X	General Surgery	General surgeons may perform this procedure in trauma or complex abdominal cases.
363L00000X	Surgical Oncology	Surgical oncologists may perform when cystostomy relates to pelvic malignancy.
208VP0000X	Pediatric Urology	Pediatric urologists for children with long-term suprapubic tubes.
207RH0000X	Gynecology	Gynecologists with pelvic reconstructive expertise may perform in select cases.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
Data not available in the input.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`52000`	Cystourethroscopy (separate procedure)	Diagnostic cystoscopy performed before or after removal to inspect bladder mucosa and ensure tract closure.
`51040`	Removal of urinary catheter; from bladder, simple	Performed when catheter is removed nonoperatively; less extensive than reopening tract and bladder closure.
`54140`	Circumcision, surgical excision	Example of minor procedure coding — not directly related; included when separate minor procedures occur concurrently (use modifier as appropriate).
`12032`	Repair, intermediate, wounds of trunk, 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm	Codes for layered soft-tissue closure when additional abdominal wall closure is billed separately in complex cases.
`49999`	Unlisted procedure, abdomen; per payer rules	Used when an ancillary abdominal procedure related to complex suprapubic tract management has no specific code.

CPT 51800: Bladder, Vesical Neck and Urethral Repair, Open Surgical Reconstruction

CPT-51820-BLADDER-URETHRAL-REPAIR-URETERAL-REIMPLANTATION

CPT 51820: Bladder and Urethral Repair with Ureteral Reimplantation

CPT-51840-URETHROPEXY-BLADDER-NECK-ELEVATION

CPT 51840: Urethropexy (Bladder Neck Elevation)

CPT-51841-ANTERIOR-VESICOURETHROPEXY-URETHROPEXY-ELEVATION-FIXATION

CPT 51841: Anterior Vesicourethropexy/Urethropexy for Urinary Incontinence

CPT-51845-BLADDER-NECK-SUSPENSION-FEMALE-STRESS-INCONTINENCE

CPT 51845: Bladder Neck Suspension for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence

CPT-51860-OPEN-BLADDER-REPAIR-SIMPLE-WOUND

CPT 51860: Open Repair of Simple Bladder Wound

CPT-51865-COMPLEX-OPEN-BLADDER-REPAIR

CPT 51865: Complex Open Repair of Urinary Bladder

CPT-51900-VESICOVAGINAL-URETHROVAGINAL-FISTULA-REPAIR

CPT 51900: Vesicovaginal and Urethrovaginal Fistula Repair

CPT-51920-VESICOUTERINE-FISTULA-REPAIR

CPT 51920: Vesicouterine Fistula Excision and Repair

CPT-51925-VESICOUTERINE-FISTULA-EXCISION-WITH-HYSTERECTOMY

CPT 51925: Excision of Vesicouterine Fistula with Hysterectomy

Showing 1–10 of 13

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
`00`	No modifier / default	Rarely used; normally a blank modifier, not typically reported — included in payer list.
`11`	Provider's usual, customary care	Use in systems that require a default professional modifier when no other modifier applies.
`22`	Increased procedural services	When work, time, and complexity substantially exceed usual; e.g., extensive adhesiolysis to access tract.
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	When procedure is performed under general anesthesia solely because of patient condition and local/regional would normally suffice.
`26`	Professional component	Use if billing only professional component separate from facility technical component (rare for this global surgical code).
`52`	Reduced services	When a planned full procedure is partially performed (e.g., minimal closure because tube already migrated).
`53`	Discontinued procedure	If procedure is terminated before completion for extenuating circumstances.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	When a separate, unrelated procedure is performed at a different site or session during same encounter.
`62`	Two surgeons	When another surgeon is required to assist for a distinct portion of the operation.
`78`	Return to OR for related procedure during postoperative period	For unplanned return to OR for complications related to initial closure (e.g., hemorrhage, leakage).
`79`	Unrelated procedure during postoperative period	For an unrelated procedure performed during the global period.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	When an assistant surgeon is billed.
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	When a minimal assistant role is documented and billable.
`AS`	Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist	When a qualified nonphysician practitioner performs or assists per payer rules.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2080P0208X	Urology	Urologists most commonly perform suprapubic tube removals and bladder closure.
2080S0122X	General Surgery	General surgeons may perform this procedure in trauma or complex abdominal cases.
363L00000X	Surgical Oncology	Surgical oncologists may perform when cystostomy relates to pelvic malignancy.
208VP0000X	Pediatric Urology	Pediatric urologists for children with long-term suprapubic tubes.
207RH0000X	Gynecology	Gynecologists with pelvic reconstructive expertise may perform in select cases.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
Data not available in the input.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`52000`	Cystourethroscopy (separate procedure)	Diagnostic cystoscopy performed before or after removal to inspect bladder mucosa and ensure tract closure.
`51040`	Removal of urinary catheter; from bladder, simple	Performed when catheter is removed nonoperatively; less extensive than reopening tract and bladder closure.
`54140`	Circumcision, surgical excision	Example of minor procedure coding — not directly related; included when separate minor procedures occur concurrently (use modifier as appropriate).
`12032`	Repair, intermediate, wounds of trunk, 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm	Codes for layered soft-tissue closure when additional abdominal wall closure is billed separately in complex cases.
`49999`	Unlisted procedure, abdomen; per payer rules	Used when an ancillary abdominal procedure related to complex suprapubic tract management has no specific code.

CPT 51800: Bladder, Vesical Neck and Urethral Repair, Open Surgical Reconstruction

CPT-51820-BLADDER-URETHRAL-REPAIR-URETERAL-REIMPLANTATION

CPT 51820: Bladder and Urethral Repair with Ureteral Reimplantation

CPT-51840-URETHROPEXY-BLADDER-NECK-ELEVATION

CPT 51840: Urethropexy (Bladder Neck Elevation)

CPT-51841-ANTERIOR-VESICOURETHROPEXY-URETHROPEXY-ELEVATION-FIXATION

CPT 51841: Anterior Vesicourethropexy/Urethropexy for Urinary Incontinence

CPT-51845-BLADDER-NECK-SUSPENSION-FEMALE-STRESS-INCONTINENCE

CPT 51845: Bladder Neck Suspension for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence

CPT-51860-OPEN-BLADDER-REPAIR-SIMPLE-WOUND

CPT 51860: Open Repair of Simple Bladder Wound

CPT-51865-COMPLEX-OPEN-BLADDER-REPAIR

CPT 51865: Complex Open Repair of Urinary Bladder

CPT-51900-VESICOVAGINAL-URETHROVAGINAL-FISTULA-REPAIR

CPT 51900: Vesicovaginal and Urethrovaginal Fistula Repair

CPT-51920-VESICOUTERINE-FISTULA-REPAIR

CPT 51920: Vesicouterine Fistula Excision and Repair

CPT-51925-VESICOUTERINE-FISTULA-EXCISION-WITH-HYSTERECTOMY

CPT 51925: Excision of Vesicouterine Fistula with Hysterectomy

Showing 1–10 of 13

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 51880: Removal of Cystostomy Tube with Bladder Closure

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Billing Code Overview

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OpenPayer

CPT 51880: Removal of Cystostomy Tube with Bladder Closure

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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