2025 CPT code 51840
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Urinary System Surgery Feed
Anterior vesicourethropexy or urethropexy (e.g., Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz, Burch); simple.
Modifiers 22 (increased procedural services), 51 (multiple procedures), 52 (reduced services), and others may apply depending on the specifics of the procedure and the circumstances.Consult the CPT manual for details.
Medical necessity is established by the presence of symptoms of stress urinary incontinence unresponsive to conservative management (e.g., pelvic floor exercises, lifestyle modifications).Documentation should support the severity of symptoms and the impact on the patient's quality of life.
The urologist or gynecologist performs the procedure, which requires expertise in pelvic floor surgery and anatomical knowledge of the bladder and urethra.
In simple words: This surgery fixes a problem with the bladder and urethra that causes urine leakage when you cough, sneeze, or exercise.The doctor lifts and secures the bladder and urethra to improve support and stop the leakage.
This CPT code 51840 represents a simple anterior vesicourethropexy or urethropexy, which involves the elevation and fixation of the bladder neck and urethra to restore the urethrovesical angle and correct urinary incontinence.The procedure typically includes prepping and draping the patient, inserting a Foley catheter, making a Pfannenstiel (or vertical) incision, identifying the bladder and urethrovesical junction, placing sutures in the periurethral and perivaginal tissues, attaching these sutures to the pubic symphysis (MMK) or Cooper's ligament (Burch), controlling bleeding, and closing the incision. The Foley catheter may remain in place post-op.
Example 1: A 45-year-old female patient presents with stress urinary incontinence after multiple vaginal deliveries.A simple Burch urethropexy is performed., A 60-year-old female patient with a history of pelvic prolapse and stress incontinence undergoes a simple MMK procedure., A 55-year-old female patient with mild stress urinary incontinence undergoes a simple anterior urethropexy.
Preoperative evaluation (including patient history, physical examination, and urodynamic studies if necessary), operative report detailing the surgical technique (MMK or Burch), postoperative assessment, and any complications encountered.
** The choice between MMK and Burch procedures depends on surgeon preference and patient-specific factors.This code is for simple procedures; more complex cases should be coded as 51841.
- Revenue Code: P1G (MAJOR PROCEDURE - OTHER)
- RVU: Data not available in source.Refer to CMS for current RVU values.
- Global Days: Data not available in source.The global period will depend on payer-specific guidelines.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Not applicable for this code.
- Fee Schedule: Data not available in source.Refer to historical fee schedules for specific years.
- Specialties:Urology, Gynecology
- Place of Service:Ambulatory Surgical Center, Inpatient Hospital, Office