CPT® Code 31661

Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; with bronchial thermoplasty, 2 or more lobes

Bronchial thermoplasty is a medical procedure designed to treat severe and persistent asthma in patients whose symptoms are not adequately managed with standard inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists. This procedure involves the use of a bronchoscope, which can be either rigid or flexible, to access the airways. The bronchoscope is introduced through the patient's nose or mouth and is guided into the oropharynx, with fluoroscopic guidance utilized as necessary to ensure accurate placement. Once the bronchoscope reaches the trachea, it is further advanced into either the right or left mainstem bronchus. During this process, any abnormalities within the airways are carefully noted. If a rigid bronchoscope is employed, a telescope or flexible bronchoscope may be inserted through it to visualize the distal segments of each mainstem bronchus more effectively. The procedure specifically targets the treatment of multiple lobes of the lungs, as indicated by the use of CPT® Code 31661, which is applicable when bronchial thermoplasty is performed on two or more lobes during a single session. The goal of bronchial thermoplasty is to reduce the excessive smooth muscle tissue in the airways, thereby decreasing their ability to constrict and narrow, which is a significant factor in asthma exacerbations. This procedure typically requires multiple sessions, as only a portion of the lungs (1-2 lobes) can be treated at each session.