2025 CPT code 50340
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Urinary System Surgery Feed
Recipient nephrectomy performed as a separate procedure during kidney transplantation.
Modifiers 50 (bilateral procedure) and 51 (multiple procedures) may be applicable depending on the specific circumstances of the case.Always refer to the most current CPT and NCCI guidelines.
Medical necessity for recipient nephrectomy during kidney transplantation is established when the recipient's native kidney(s) are irreversibly damaged or diseased and their removal is essential for successful transplantation.This is usually the case in patients with ESRD, PKD or other conditions that cause irreversible damage to renal function. The removal minimizes the chance of complications such as infection, rejection and immunological responses.
The surgical team's responsibility includes the preparation of the surgical site, the incision, the dissection of tissues to expose the kidney, the ligation of blood vessels and ureter, the removal of the kidney, and the closure of the incision. Postoperative care and monitoring of the patient are also included.
In simple words: This code represents the removal of the patient's own unhealthy kidney to make room for a new, healthy kidney from a donor.This is a separate surgery done at the same time as the transplant.
Recipient nephrectomy, performed as a distinct procedure from the kidney transplant, involves the surgical removal of the recipient's diseased or non-functioning kidney.This procedure is often necessary to create space for the placement of the donor kidney and to minimize the risk of rejection or complications. The nephrectomy is typically conducted concurrently with the transplantation process, often in an adjacent operating room or surgical suite.
Example 1: A 55-year-old male with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoes a kidney transplant.His diseased native kidney is removed concurrently to make space for the donor kidney., A 40-year-old female with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) receives a live donor kidney transplant.Her severely damaged native kidney is removed to prevent complications and improve the success of the transplant., A 60-year-old male with ESRD due to diabetes mellitus undergoes a deceased-donor kidney transplant.His native kidney, which is irreversibly damaged, is surgically removed during the transplantation procedure.
Complete surgical report detailing the procedure, including the indications for nephrectomy, the surgical technique, and the postoperative course.Preoperative assessment including renal function tests and imaging studies.Pathology report confirming the removal of the diseased kidney.
** Accurate coding requires clear documentation distinguishing this procedure from the kidney transplant itself.Consult current CPT and NCCI guidelines for the most up-to-date information on coding and reimbursement.