2025 CPT code 32440
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Respiratory System Surgery Feed
Removal of a lung (pneumonectomy).
Modifiers may apply depending on the circumstances of the procedure (e.g., 59 for distinct procedural service if performed in addition to other procedures, 50 for bilateral procedure).Consult the current CPT guidelines for a complete list of applicable modifiers.
A pneumonectomy is medically necessary when less extensive surgical procedures are not sufficient to treat life-threatening conditions such as lung cancer, severe traumatic lung injury, or other conditions causing irreparable lung damage.Medical necessity is determined based on the extent of the disease, the patient's overall health status and life expectancy.
Thoracic surgeon performs the procedure. Preoperative assessment, surgery, and postoperative care are included.
In simple words: This code represents the surgery to remove an entire lung.The surgeon makes a cut in the chest to reach the lung, removes it, and then closes the incision. This is a major surgery usually done for lung cancer or other serious lung conditions.
A pneumonectomy is a surgical procedure involving the complete removal of one lung.This is typically performed via thoracotomy (an incision in the chest wall), though minimally invasive techniques like VATS (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) may be used in select cases. The procedure involves accessing the lung, clamping and severing the bronchus and blood vessels, removing the lung, and then closing the chest incision.The type of pneumonectomy (simple or extrapleural) depends on the extent of tissue resection.A simple pneumonectomy removes only the lung, while an extrapleural pneumonectomy also removes portions of the diaphragm, pericardium, and parietal pleura.
Example 1: A 65-year-old male patient diagnosed with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the right upper lobe, unresectable by lobectomy, undergoes a right pneumonectomy., A 48-year-old female with a history of traumatic lung injury to the left lung resulting in severe bronchiectasis and recurrent infections undergoes a left pneumonectomy., A 72-year-old male patient with malignant pleural mesothelioma undergoes an extrapleural pneumonectomy.
* Complete medical history including past medical and surgical history, allergies, current medications.* Preoperative diagnostic imaging (chest x-rays, CT scan) showing the extent of the lung pathology.* Pulmonary function test (PFT) results to assess lung function and surgical risk.* Operative report documenting the procedure performed and the type of pneumonectomy.* Pathology report confirming the diagnosis and the margins of resection.* Postoperative progress notes documenting the patient’s recovery and management of postoperative complications.
** Always verify the code and its applicability with the payer's guidelines and local coverage determinations. Accurate documentation is crucial for proper reimbursement.
- Revenue Code: P1G (MAJOR PROCEDURE - OTHER)
- RVU: This information requires access to a current relative value unit (RVU) database.RVUs vary by location and payer.
- Global Days : The global surgical period for a pneumonectomy is typically extensive and varies depending on payer and specific circumstances.Clarification may be needed from the payer's guidelines.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: The TC (Technical Component) modifier is not applicable to this code.
- Fee Schedule : Access to historical fee schedules requires a subscription to a medical billing database.Fees vary by payer and location.
- Specialties:Thoracic Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital