Summary & Overview
CPT 57287: Removal of Urethral Sling for Stress Urinary Incontinence
CPT code 57287 denotes surgical removal of a urethral sling placed to correct stress urinary incontinence when the device is eroding, infected, causing urinary retention, or protruding. The code captures procedures performed via a vaginal or combined vaginal and abdominal approach. Nationally, this code is relevant for post-surgical management of pelvic floor device complications and can affect hospital and ambulatory surgery workflows, complication tracking, and coding compliance.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical and billing overview of the procedure, common modifiers used with this code, and context for typical sites of service. The publication outlines benchmarks and policy-relevant considerations applicable across payers, summarizes clinical scenarios that trigger use of the code, and notes where input data was not provided. This summary is intended for health plan analysts, coding and billing staff, and clinical leaders seeking a national-level reference for use of CPT code 57287.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 57287 describes the surgical removal of a previously implanted sling placed under the urethra to treat stress urinary incontinence. The procedure is performed when the sling is eroding, infected, causing urinary retention, or protruding from the site. The approach may be vaginal or a combination of vaginal and abdominal techniques.
Service type: Surgical removal of urethral sling
Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgery center (vaginal or combined vaginal/abdominal approach)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 58-year-old woman with a prior mid-urethral synthetic sling placed 5 years earlier presents with progressive pelvic pain, recurrent urinary tract infections, and new onset urinary retention with difficulty voiding. On exam the sling is palpable and vaginally exposed with surrounding erythema. Conservative measures have failed and imaging/urodynamic testing confirm obstruction and incomplete bladder emptying. The surgical plan is removal of the eroding mid-urethral sling via a vaginal approach, with possible combined vaginal and abdominal exploration if needed for complete removal. The clinical workflow includes preoperative assessment (history, pelvic exam, urine culture), informed consent documenting indications (erosion, infection, retention, or protrusion), perioperative antibiotics as indicated, removal of the sling under anesthesia, intraoperative inspection for additional mesh fragments, and postoperative follow-up for wound healing, voiding trial, and management of recurrent stress urinary incontinence if it occurs.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier (default) | Use when no additional billing modifier applies and the service is reported without special circumstances. |
22 |