CPT Code 57287 | Description & Clinical Information

CPT 57287 describes the removal of a sling that was previously placed under the urethra to correct stress urinary incontinence due to reasons such as erosion, infection, urinary retention, or protrusion from the site, and can be performed through a vaginal or combination vaginal and abdominal approach.

Official Description

The CPT book defines CPT code 57287 as: “Removal or revision of sling for stress incontinence (eg, fascia or synthetic)”.

Clinical Information

The procedure described by CPT code 57287 is a surgical technique that is performed to correct urinary incontinence in women. It is typically conducted on those who suffer from stress urinary incontinence, which occurs when the pelvic muscles are weakened and fail to support the bladder adequately.

The first step in this procedure is the administration of anesthesia to the patient. Once that’s completed, the provider properly preps and drapes the patient, positioning them in the dorsal lithotomy position.

From here, the provider then makes a vaginal incision in the anterior vaginal vault, situated beside the urethra. It’s important to avoid any direct contact with the urethra during this process. The incision is carried down to the graft material so that it can be released from the surrounding tissue to the endopelvic fascia on both sides of the urethra.

The procedure goes on until all of the graft or mesh material is released, which enables the surgeon to remove or adjust the material, depending on the situation. If the sling used for the procedure was attached above the urethra, a small abdominal incision is made to access that area to adjust or remove the attachment.

In the course of this procedure, it is critical to carry out a cystoscopy. This step is performed to ensure that there’s no graft material present in the bladder and that no harm was done during surgery around the urethra. At this juncture, the incision sites are irrigated to ensure that they are clean, and there’s no bleeding from the areas.

Once all of this is completed, the provider sutures and packs the vagina to facilitate a quicker and smoother recovery for the patient. This process effectively treats urinary incontinence and drastically improves the patient’s quality of life.

Return to all the CPT codes for repair procedures on the vagina.