2025 CPT code 47563
Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Biliary Tract Feed
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy with cholangiography.
Modifiers such as 22 (Increased Procedural Services), 51 (Multiple Procedures), etc., may be applicable in certain situations.
Medical necessity for this procedure is established by the presence of symptomatic gallbladder disease, such as gallstones or cholecystitis, requiring surgical removal. Cholangiography is medically necessary when there is a clinical need to visualize the bile ducts during the procedure, e.g. suspected common bile duct stones or abnormalities.
The surgeon performs the laparoscopic cholecystectomy and cholangiography, including prepping the patient, making incisions, inserting the laparoscope and instruments, dissecting the gallbladder, clipping the cystic artery and duct, injecting contrast dye, visualizing the biliary ducts, removing the gallbladder, and closing the incisions.
- Surgery > Surgical Procedures on the Digestive System > Surgical Procedures on the Biliary Tract > Laparoscopic Procedures on the Biliary Tract
In simple words: The surgeon removes the gallbladder through small cuts in the belly using a tiny camera and instruments. Dye is injected to view the bile ducts with X-rays, making sure everything is clear.
This procedure involves the surgical removal of the gallbladder using minimally invasive techniques (laparoscopy), along with intraoperative imaging of the bile ducts (cholangiography).The laparoscope, a thin tube with a camera and light source, is inserted through small incisions in the abdomen. Cholangiography involves injecting a contrast dye into the bile ducts and using X-ray imaging to visualize them, ensuring there are no obstructions or other complications.
Example 1: A patient with symptomatic gallstones and a normal biliary anatomy undergoes laparoscopic cholecystectomy with intraoperative cholangiography to confirm clear ducts before gallbladder removal., A patient with chronic cholecystitis and suspected common bile duct stones undergoes laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Intraoperative cholangiography is performed to visualize the common bile duct and identify any stones that might require further intervention., A patient with gallbladder polyps undergoes laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Cholangiography is performed during the procedure to assess for any abnormalities in the bile ducts, even though none are suspected preoperatively.
Documentation should include the operative report detailing the laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedure, including the findings of the cholangiography.Any abnormalities found in the biliary ducts should be clearly documented. Preoperative diagnosis, indications for the procedure, and postoperative status should also be recorded.
** HCPCS code C9776 can be reported as an add-on code for ICG fluorescence imaging during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, per Coding Clinic guidance.