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The procedure described by CPT® Code 40801 involves the drainage of an abscess, cyst, or hematoma located in the vestibule of the mouth, which is the area between the lips and cheeks and the teeth. This area is also known as the buccal cavity and includes the mucosal and submucosal tissues, but it does not encompass the dentoalveolar structures. In this procedure, the healthcare provider first identifies the presence of an abscess, cyst, or hematoma. A local anesthetic is then administered to ensure patient comfort during the procedure. Following anesthesia, the mucosal tissue is incised to access the abscess pocket, cyst, or hematoma. The contents are then opened and drained to relieve pressure and promote healing. If there are any loculations within the abscess pocket, these are carefully broken up to facilitate complete drainage. In cases of hematoma, any blood clots present are removed to ensure proper drainage. It is important to note that CPT® Code 40801 is specifically used for complicated procedures that may require deeper dissection compared to simpler procedures, which are coded under 40800. Complicated procedures may also necessitate the use of gauze packing or the placement of a drain to manage drainage until it subsides, ensuring effective healing and recovery.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The procedure coded under CPT® Code 40801 is indicated for the following conditions:
The procedure involves several critical steps to ensure effective drainage of the abscess, cyst, or hematoma:
After the procedure, the patient may require specific post-procedure care to ensure proper healing. This may include instructions on how to care for the incision site, signs of infection to watch for, and when to follow up with the healthcare provider. If gauze packing or a drain was used, the patient will need guidance on how to manage these until they are removed. Recovery time may vary depending on the complexity of the procedure and the individual patient's healing process.
| Short Descr | DRAINAGE OF MOUTH LESION | Medium Descr | DRG ABSC CST HMTMA VESTIBULE MOUTH COMP | Long Descr | Drainage of abscess, cyst, hematoma, vestibule of mouth; complicated | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | 010 - Minor Procedure | 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) | P5E - Ambulatory procedures - other | MUE | 2 | CCS Clinical Classification | 33 - Other OR therapeutic procedures on nose, mouth and pharynx |
| 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) | 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. | 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.) | 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. | 54 | Surgical care only: when 1 physician or other qualified health care professional performs a surgical procedure and another provides preoperative and/or postoperative management, surgical services may be identified by adding modifier 54 to the usual procedure number. | 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. | 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.) | AG | Primary physician | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | 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 |
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| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
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