Summary & Overview
CPT 58820: Ovarian Abscess Drainage via Vaginal Wall Incision
CPT code 58820 represents surgical drainage of an ovarian abscess via an incision of the vaginal wall. The code captures a targeted gynecologic procedure used to evacuate purulent collections in the adnexa and address acute pelvic infection. Nationally, accurate coding for this service is important for claims integrity, quality measurement of gynecologic infection management, and appropriate facility and surgeon reimbursement.
Key payers covered in this publication include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for when the procedure is indicated, typical sites of service, and common billing considerations. The publication summarizes available benchmarks where present, notes relevant policy and coverage patterns from major payers, and outlines common documentation elements tied to coding justification. Data gaps from the input are identified as "Data not available in the input." The material is intended for a national audience of coding professionals, clinical billers, and policy analysts seeking a clear reference to CPT code 58820 and its role in gynecologic surgical care.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 58820 describes a procedure in which a provider drains an ovarian abscess through an incision in the vaginal wall. This is a surgical drainage procedure targeting a pelvic gynecologic infection that has localized to an adnexal structure.
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Service type: Surgical drainage of pelvic/gynecologic abscess
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or procedure suite; may also occur in an ambulatory surgery center depending on clinical status and facility capabilities.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a reproductive‑age woman presenting with fever, lower abdominal pain, and adnexal tenderness. Pelvic ultrasound or CT identifies a unilocular or multiloculated adnexal fluid collection consistent with an ovarian abscess or tubo‑ovarian abscess with risk of rupture or persistent infection despite antibiotics. After initial resuscitation and broad‑spectrum intravenous antibiotics, the gynecology team determines that percutaneous or transabdominal drainage is not optimal due to collection location or proximity to bowel. The patient is counseled and taken to the operating room or procedure suite. Under regional or general anesthesia, the provider performs a transvaginal approach: a vaginal wall incision is created, the abscess is drained, fluid is cultured, and the cavity is irrigated. Specimens are sent to microbiology. Post‑procedure management includes continued tailored antibiotics, pain control, and follow‑up imaging or exam to confirm resolution. Typical sites of service are the operating room, ambulatory surgical center, or hospital procedure room depending on acuity and anesthesia needs.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Standard; no modifier | When no additional or special circumstance modifier applies to the claim |
22 |