Drainage of a seroma and drain placement

A patient returned a patient to the OR for the drainage of a seroma and drain placement two weeks post-op of a femoral bypass surgery.  What are the codes for the seroma and drain placement?

Answer

There is no CPT code for the placement of the drain associated with the seroma drainage.

Look at CPT code 10140, Incision and drainage of hematoma, seroma or fluid collection as a code option based on the surgeon’s documentation.  The placement of the drain is inherent to the drainage procedure and not separately reportable.

Append modifier 78 to the appropriate surgical procedure as the patient is in the global period of the bypass surgery.