Surgery CPT Codes
Surgical procedures across all body systems, including general surgery, GI, and minimally invasive procedures
Total Codes
158
Procedure codes in this specialty
Subcategories
6
Procedure types
RVU Data
158
Codes with RVU values
Overview
Surgery CPT codes represent the largest category of procedures, covering surgical interventions across all body systems. These codes require detailed documentation of approach, complexity, and any complications encountered.
Most Common Surgery CPT Codes
Top 30 frequently used codes in this specialty
23472
Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; with rotator cuff repair
Orthopedic Procedures
58.50 RVUs
90-150 Not applicable - surgical procedure
27130
Total hip arthroplasty (THA), hemiarthroplasty, or acetabular reconstruction; with or without autograft or allograft
Musculoskeletal System - Joint Replacement
50.34 RVUs
120-150 High
50590
Lithotripsy, extracorporeal shock wave (ESWL)
Urology Procedures
49.80 RVUs
60-90 Not applicable - surgical procedure
27447
Total knee arthroplasty (TKA), unilateral
Musculoskeletal System - Joint Replacement
48.88 RVUs
120-150 High
19307
Mastectomy, modified radical, including axillary lymph nodes, with or without pectoralis minor muscle
General Surgery
45.35 RVUs
90-120
15730
Midface flap (ie, zygomaticofacial flap) with preservation of vascular pedicle(s)
Integumentary System - Flaps and Grafts
43.17 RVUs
3-4 High
47610
Cholecystectomy with exploration of common bile duct
General Surgery
42.62 RVUs
105-135
47564
Laparoscopy, surgical; cholecystectomy with exploration of common bile duct
Minimally Invasive Surgery
36.98 RVUs
90-120
19303
Mastectomy, simple, complete
General Surgery
34.88 RVUs
75-105
47600
Cholecystectomy
General Surgery
32.15 RVUs
75-105
47563
Laparoscopy, surgical; cholecystectomy with cholangiography
Minimally Invasive Surgery
30.00 RVUs
75-105
44960
Appendectomy for ruptured appendix with abscess or generalized peritonitis
General Surgery
29.58 RVUs
75-105
49651
Laparoscopy, surgical; repair recurrent inguinal hernia
Minimally Invasive Surgery
28.58 RVUs
75-105
49507
Repair initial inguinal hernia, age 5 years or older; incarcerated or strangulated
General Surgery
28.28 RVUs
60-90
19301
Mastectomy, partial (eg, lumpectomy, tylectomy, quadrantectomy, segmentectomy)
General Surgery
27.95 RVUs
60-90
47562
Laparoscopy, surgical; cholecystectomy
Minimally Invasive Surgery
27.31 RVUs
60-90
49520
Repair recurrent inguinal hernia, any age; reducible
General Surgery
25.65 RVUs
60-90
49652
Laparoscopy, surgical, repair, ventral, umbilical, spigelian or epigastric hernia; reducible
Minimally Invasive Surgery
25.32 RVUs
60-90
49650
Laparoscopy, surgical; repair initial inguinal hernia, age 5 years or older; reducible
Minimally Invasive Surgery
23.75 RVUs
60-90
49560
Repair initial incisional or ventral hernia; reducible
General Surgery
22.50 RVUs
60-90
29889
Knee arthroscopy with knee arthrotomy and meniscectomy (separate procedure), medial or lateral (including meniscal debridement)
Musculoskeletal System - Arthroscopy
21.73 RVUs
90-120 High
49505
Repair initial inguinal hernia, age 5 years or older; reducible
General Surgery
21.25 RVUs
45-75
58558
Hysteroscopy, surgical; with sampling (biopsy) of endometrium and/or polypectomy, with or without D&C
Gynecology Procedures
21.20 RVUs
30-60 Not applicable - surgical procedure
44950
Appendectomy, open approach
General Surgery
19.55 RVUs
45-75
44970
Laparoscopy, surgical, appendectomy
Minimally Invasive Surgery
19.15 RVUs
45-75
29888
Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy (medial or lateral, including for pathologic shredding) including meniscal debridement
Musculoskeletal System - Arthroscopy
16.55 RVUs
45-60 Moderate
45390
Colonoscopy, flexible; with endoscopic mucosal resection
Gastrointestinal System - Endoscopy
14.88 RVUs
40-60
49585
Repair umbilical hernia, age 5 years or older; reducible
General Surgery
14.35 RVUs
30-50
29885
Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with removal of loose body or foreign body (eg, osteochondritis dissecans fragmentation, acute meniscal fragment)
Musculoskeletal System - Arthroscopy
13.84 RVUs
45-60 Moderate
13101
Repair, complex, trunk; 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm
Integumentary System - Repair (Closure)
12.82 RVUs
60-90 High
Browse by Subcategory
Explore codes organized by procedure type
Musculoskeletal System - Joint Replacement
2 codes
General Surgery
25 codes
- 19307 Mastectomy, modified radical, including axillary lymph nodes, with or without pectoralis minor muscle
- 47610 Cholecystectomy with exploration of common bile duct
- 19303 Mastectomy, simple, complete
- 47600 Cholecystectomy
- 44960 Appendectomy for ruptured appendix with abscess or generalized peritonitis
+20 more codes
Integumentary System - Flaps and Grafts
1 code
Minimally Invasive Surgery
7 codes
- 47564 Laparoscopy, surgical; cholecystectomy with exploration of common bile duct
- 47563 Laparoscopy, surgical; cholecystectomy with cholangiography
- 49651 Laparoscopy, surgical; repair recurrent inguinal hernia
- 47562 Laparoscopy, surgical; cholecystectomy
- 49652 Laparoscopy, surgical, repair, ventral, umbilical, spigelian or epigastric hernia; reducible
+2 more codes
Musculoskeletal System - Arthroscopy
3 codes
- 29889 Knee arthroscopy with knee arthrotomy and meniscectomy (separate procedure), medial or lateral (including meniscal debridement)
- 29888 Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy (medial or lateral, including for pathologic shredding) including meniscal debridement
- 29885 Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with removal of loose body or foreign body (eg, osteochondritis dissecans fragmentation, acute meniscal fragment)
Gynecology Procedures
1 code
Gastrointestinal System - Endoscopy
31 codes
- 45390 Colonoscopy, flexible; with endoscopic mucosal resection
- 45382 Colonoscopy, flexible; with control of bleeding, any method
- 45388 Colonoscopy, flexible; with ablation of tumor(s), polyp(s), or other lesion(s) (includes pre- and post-dilation and guide wire passage, when performed)
- 45387 Colonoscopy, flexible; with ablation of tumor(s), polyp(s), or other lesion(s) (includes pre- and post-dilation and guide wire passage, when performed)
- 45385 Colonoscopy, flexible; with removal of tumor(s), polyp(s), or other lesion(s) by snare technique
+26 more codes
Integumentary System - Repair (Closure)
5 codes
- 13101 Repair, complex, trunk; 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm
- 12007 Simple repair of superficial wounds of scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, trunk and/or extremities (including hands and feet); 20.1 cm to 30 cm
- 12005 Simple repair of superficial wounds of scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, trunk and/or extremities (including hands and feet); 12.6 cm to 20 cm
- 12004 Simple repair of superficial wounds of scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, trunk and/or extremities (including hands and feet); 7.6 cm to 12.5 cm
- 12002 Simple repair of superficial wounds of scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, trunk and/or extremities (including hands and feet); 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm
Respiratory System
13 codes
- 42821 Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy; age 12 years or over
- 42820 Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy; age under 12 years
- 42826 Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary; age under 12 years
- 31237 Nasal/sinus endoscopy, surgical; with biopsy, polypectomy or debridement (separate procedure)
- 30905 Control nasal hemorrhage, posterior, with posterior nasal packs and/or cautery, any method; initial
+8 more codes
Cardiovascular System
6 codes
- 36571 Insertion of tunneled centrally inserted central venous access device, with subcutaneous port; age 5 years or older
- 36475 Endovenous ablation therapy of incompetent vein, extremity, inclusive of all imaging guidance and monitoring, percutaneous, radiofrequency; first vein treated
- 36561 Insertion of tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter (CVC), without subcutaneous port or pump; age 5 years or older
- 36556 Insertion of non-tunneled centrally inserted central venous catheter; age 5 years or older
- 36471 Injection of sclerosant; single incompetent vein (other than telangiectasia), including all necessary injection procedures on same day
+1 more codes
Integumentary System
41 codes
- 19085 Biopsy, breast, with placement of breast localization device(s) (e.g., clip, metallic pellet), when performed, percutaneous; first lesion, including magnetic resonance guidance
- 19081 Biopsy, breast, with placement of breast localization device(s) (e.g., clip, metallic pellet), when performed, percutaneous; first lesion, including stereotactic guidance
- 19083 Biopsy, breast, with placement of breast localization device(s) (e.g., clip, metallic pellet), when performed, percutaneous; first lesion, including ultrasound guidance
- 17266 Destruction, malignant lesion (eg, laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, surgical curettement), trunk, arms, or legs; lesion diameter over 4.0 cm
- 17274 Destruction, malignant lesion (eg, laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, surgical curettement), face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips; lesion diameter 3.1 cm to 4.0 cm
+36 more codes
Urinary System
4 codes
- 52332 Cystourethroscopy, with insertion of ureteral stent (eg, Gibbons or double-J type)
- 52310 Cystourethroscopy, with removal of foreign body, calculus, or ureteral stent from urethra or bladder (separate procedure); simple
- 52005 Cystourethroscopy, with ureteral catheterization, with or without irrigation, instillation, or ureteropyelography, exclusive of radiologic service
- 52000 Cystourethroscopy (separate procedure)
Nervous System
3 codes
- 64483 Injection(s), anesthetic agent and/or steroid, transforaminal epidural, with imaging guidance (fluoroscopy or CT); lumbar or sacral, single level
- 64520 Injection, anesthetic agent; lumbar or sacral nerve, transforaminal epidural
- 64493 Injection(s), anesthetic agent and/or steroid, transforaminal epidural, with imaging guidance (fluoroscopy or CT); lumbar or sacral, each additional level (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
Integumentary System - Excision
3 codes
- 11421 Excision, benign lesion including margins, except skin tag (unless listed elsewhere), scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia; excised diameter 0.6 cm to 1.0 cm
- 11401 Excision, benign lesion including margins, except skin tag (unless listed elsewhere), trunk, arms or legs; excised diameter 0.6 cm to 1.0 cm
- 11420 Excision, benign lesion including margins, except skin tag (unless listed elsewhere), scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia; excised diameter 0.5 cm or less
Integumentary System - Debridement
2 codes
Hemic and Lymphatic Systems
2 codes
Documentation Tips
- Document surgical approach (open vs. laparoscopic)
- Specify procedure extent and complexity
- Note any complications or conversions
- Document tissue removed and margins
- Include all procedures performed in same session
Common Denial Patterns
Understanding common denial reasons helps prevent claim rejections and improves audit defense.
- Insufficient documentation for procedure complexity
- Global period violation
- Modifier misuse (59, 51, 22)
- Bundled procedures incorrectly separated
- Approach not documented (open vs. laparoscopic)
Frequently Asked Questions
Typical pre‑op, intra‑op, and post‑op care is included. Minor procedures often 0–10 days; major typically 90 days.
Report the open procedure; the laparoscopy is bundled unless a distinct diagnostic laparoscopy was performed and documented.
Detail the unusual complexity, time, adhesiolysis, blood loss, and factors beyond typical work; include supporting evidence.
Yes, apply modifier 51 as appropriate, follow NCCI edits, and document distinct indications and sites.
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