CPT Code 31637 | Description & Clinical Information

CPT 31637 describes the insertion of a stent in an additional major bronchus during a procedure where the provider performs rigid or flexible bronchoscopy to view airways, with or without fluoroscopic guidance, and may also perform dilatation of the narrowed area before stent placement.

Official Description

The CPT book defines CPT code 31637 as: “Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; each additional major bronchus stented (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)”.

Billing Guidelines

Use CPT code 31637 in conjunction with CPT code 31636.

Clinical Information

The procedure described by CPT code 31637 involves the use of bronchoscopy. This is a medical procedure that allows healthcare practitioners to visually examine a patient’s airways. The examination is carried out with the help of a bronchoscope, which is a flexible or rigid tube inserted through the nose or mouth.

Before the patient is subjected to the procedure, they must first be adequately prepped and anesthetized. The practitioner then introduces the scope through the nose or mouth and down into the throat. The scope is then advanced further to the bronchus, which is the primary air passageway to the lungs. At this point, the healthcare professional carefully examines the mucus lining and covering of the airways, looking for any abnormality or obstruction.

If an obstruction is found, the healthcare provider passes a guide wire through the scope to the site of narrowing. A stent is then introduced over the wire and positioned in the area of obstruction in the bronchus. It may be necessary to place multiple stents, and sometimes the trachea or bronchus may need to be dilated before the stent placement. To perform this dilation, the provider introduces dilators over the guide wire and expands the obstructed area.

In some cases, it may be necessary to use fluoroscopic guidance to perform the procedure. In this scenario, the provider injects a dye and uses X-ray imaging of moving structures to help guide the passage of the scope. The stent is placed in each additional major bronchus after separately reportable stent placement in the initial bronchus.

Bronchoscopy is a valuable procedure that can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of various respiratory diseases. The use of a bronchoscope allows healthcare providers to visualize and examine the respiratory tract directly, identify any abnormalities, and perform procedures such as stent placement and dilation. It is an essential tool in the care of patients with respiratory diseases and can provide critical information leading to optimal treatment outcomes.

Return to all the CPT codes for endoscopy procedures on the trachea and bronchi.