Ask Dr. Z

Physician performed the following: flexible bronchoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, right thoracotomy, incision and drainage of mediastinal abscess, drainage of effusion, intercostal muscle flap, wedge resection of the right lower lobe of the lung.

The wedge resection was done to repair an intraoperative lung tear. Dictation states: "We were able to elevate the lung and take the inferior pulmonary ligament. There was a small tear in the lung and we subsequently performed a small wedge resection around that tear, placing a nice solid staple line on the lower part of the right lower lobe." Physician wants me to report code 32505, which would be inappropriate since there were no nodules or masses. Would code 32110 (thoracotomy; with control of traumatic hemorrhage and/or repair of lung tear) be okay to use in this scenario? Or, would this code strictly be used for a traumatic laceration? If so, which CPT code should be applied?