Urology Times 50 Innovations Series: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for stones

Proper coding for percutaneous nephrolithotomy includes code 50081.

“The prevalence of kidney stones has increased over 80% over the last 30 years, and the epidemiology has changed such that it's beginning at a younger age now,” says Gregory Tasian, MD, MSc, MSCE.

"[Our study] suggests that limiting added sugar intake may help to prevent the formation of kidney stones,” says Shan Yin, MD.

“You have tradeoffs with every device that you use,” says Amy E. Krambeck, MD.

"Prescription alkali therapy is very costly; it has a lot of side effects, and the compliance is very low," says Brett Johnson, MD.

"CPT codes 50080 and 50081 describe the antegrade approach to stone removal requiring lithotripsy through a nephrostomy tract, with 50080 being reported for stones less than 2 cm in size in a single location, whereas 50081 would be reported for large or complex stones, stones in multiple locations, or stones in the ureter (such as in the example provided)," write Jonathan Rubenstein, MD, and Mark Painter.