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The CPT® Code 15574 refers to the surgical procedure involving the formation of a direct or tubed pedicle flap, which can be performed on various anatomical sites including the forehead, cheeks, chin, mouth, neck, axillae, genitalia, hands, or feet. A pedicle flap is a type of tissue transfer that maintains its blood supply from the donor site, allowing for effective healing and integration at the recipient site. This procedure is typically the first stage in a multi-stage surgical process aimed at covering non-adjacent defects. In the case of a direct pedicle flap, the flap is created and immediately transferred to the recipient site during the same surgical session, with the donor site being approximated to the recipient site to facilitate healing. Conversely, a tubed pedicle flap involves sewing the lateral edges of the flap together to form a tube, which is then transferred to the recipient site. The procedure includes careful planning of the flap's size and shape, incision of the donor site, and raising a full-thickness flap that is sutured to the recipient site in multiple layers. After the flap is secured, the donor site is typically closed with sutures, although in some cases, a separate skin graft or local flap may be necessary to adequately close the donor site. This code is specifically utilized when the flap is transferred to the aforementioned anatomical areas or when a tubed flap is formed at these sites for later transfer to another location.
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The procedure associated with CPT® Code 15574 is indicated for the following conditions:
The procedure for CPT® Code 15574 involves several critical steps:
Post-procedure care for patients undergoing the flap formation involves monitoring the flap for viability, which includes assessing blood supply and ensuring there are no signs of necrosis. Patients may be advised to keep the area clean and dry, and to follow specific wound care instructions provided by the surgeon. Pain management may be necessary, and follow-up appointments will be scheduled to evaluate healing progress. The expected recovery time can vary based on the extent of the procedure and the individual patient's healing response. Additionally, patients should be informed about potential complications, such as infection or flap failure, and the importance of reporting any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider promptly.
| Short Descr | PEDCLE FH/CH/CH/M/N/AX/G/H/F | Medium Descr | FRMJ DIR/TUBE PEDCL W/WOTR FH/CH/CH/M/N/AX/G/H/F | Long Descr | Formation of direct or tubed pedicle, with or without transfer; forehead, cheeks, chin, mouth, neck, axillae, genitalia, hands or feet | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | 090 - Major Surgery | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 2 - Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 1 - Statutory payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Procedure or Service, Multiple Reduction Applies | ASC Payment Indicator | Surgical procedure on ASC list in CY 2007; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight. | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P5A - Ambulatory procedures - skin | MUE | 2 | CCS Clinical Classification | 172 - Skin graft |
This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.
| 20701 | Add-on Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N Removal of drug-delivery device(s), deep (eg, subfascial) (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) |
| 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | 58 | Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78. | 51 | Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | 79 | Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.) | SG | Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service | 22 | Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 52 | Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use). | 78 | Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, see modifier 76.) | 80 | Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s). | 82 | Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon not available): the unavailability of a qualified resident surgeon is a prerequisite for use of modifier 82 appended to the usual procedure code number(s). | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | E2 | Lower left, eyelid | F1 | Left hand, second digit | F2 | Left hand, third digit | F3 | Left hand, fourth digit | F4 | Left hand, fifth digit | F5 | Right hand, thumb | F7 | Right hand, third digit | F9 | Right hand, fifth digit | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | T1 | Left foot, second digit | T6 | Right foot, second digit | T9 | Right foot, fifth digit | TA | Left foot, great toe | XP | Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service |
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| 2013-01-01 | Changed | Description Changed |
| 1992-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 1992. |
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