© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
The procedure described by CPT® Code 50020 involves the open drainage of a perirenal or renal abscess. A perirenal abscess refers to a collection of pus that forms in the tissue surrounding the kidney, while a renal abscess is an accumulation of pus within the kidney itself. These abscesses can arise due to various causes, including blunt or penetrating trauma, infections, or other underlying medical conditions. The open drainage procedure is performed to alleviate the symptoms associated with these abscesses, such as pain, fever, and potential complications from the infection. During the procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the skin and carefully dissects the underlying soft tissues to access the abscess. Gerota's fascia, which is the connective tissue surrounding the kidney, is also incised to allow for further access to the perirenal fat. Once the abscess is located, it is incised to allow for the drainage of its contents. The surgeon separates any loculations within the abscess and evacuates all debris, which may include pus, blood, and necrotic tissue. To ensure thorough cleaning, the abscess cavity is irrigated with sterile saline or an antibiotic solution until all debris is removed. Finally, a drain is placed in the abscess cavity to facilitate ongoing drainage, and the incisions are closed in layers around the drain to promote healing and prevent complications.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The open drainage of a perirenal or renal abscess, as described by CPT® Code 50020, is indicated in the following situations:
The procedure for the open drainage of a perirenal or renal abscess involves several critical steps:
Post-procedure care following the open drainage of a perirenal or renal abscess includes monitoring for signs of infection, ensuring proper drainage through the placed drain, and managing any pain or discomfort. Patients may require follow-up imaging to assess the resolution of the abscess and to ensure that no further complications arise. The healthcare team will provide instructions on drain care and signs to watch for that may indicate complications, such as increased redness, swelling, or fever. Recovery time may vary depending on the individual patient's condition and the extent of the procedure performed.
| Short Descr | DRG PERIRNL/RENAL ABSC OPEN | Medium Descr | DRAINAGE PERIRENAL/RENAL ABSCESS OPEN | Long Descr | Drainage of perirenal or renal abscess, open | 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) | 1 - Co-surgeons could be paid, though supporting documentation is required... | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Hospital Part B services paid through a comprehensive APC | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P5E - Ambulatory procedures - other | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 103 - Nephrotomy and nephrostomy |
| 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). | 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). | 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. | 62 | Two surgeons: when 2 surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct part(s) of a procedure, each surgeon should report his/her distinct operative work by adding modifier 62 to the procedure code and any associated add-on code(s) for that procedure as long as both surgeons continue to work together as primary surgeons. each surgeon should report the co-surgery once using the same procedure code. if additional procedure(s) (including add-on procedure(s) are performed during the same surgical session, separate code(s) may also be reported with modifier 62 added. note: if a co-surgeon acts as an assistant in the performance of additional procedure(s), other than those reported with the modifier 62, during the same surgical session, those services may be reported using separate procedure code(s) with modifier 80 or modifier 82 added, as appropriate. | 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.) | 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.) | 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). | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) |
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| 2025-01-01 | Changed | Short Description changed. |
| 2014-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed. |
| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Short description changed. |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
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