CPT® Code 32096

The procedure described by CPT® Code 32096 involves a thoracotomy, which is a surgical incision into the chest wall to access the lungs. This specific procedure is performed for the purpose of obtaining diagnostic biopsies of lung infiltrates, which are abnormal substances present in the lung tissue that can lead to opacification visible on a chest x-ray. Such infiltrates may arise from various conditions, including infections, inflammation, fluid accumulation, or hemorrhage. The term 'unilateral' indicates that the procedure is performed on one side of the chest only. During the thoracotomy, the surgeon makes a small anterior incision between the ribs, typically in the second to fifth intercostal spaces, depending on the location of the infiltrate. The surgical approach involves careful dissection of the pectoralis and intercostal muscles to expose the pleura, the membrane surrounding the lungs. Once the pleura is accessed, the surgeon may collapse the lung as necessary to facilitate examination and biopsy of the affected area. The procedure may involve obtaining one or more tissue samples or excising a triangular wedge of lung tissue. After the biopsy is completed, the lung is reinflated, and the incision is meticulously closed, often with the placement of a chest tube to ensure proper drainage and lung expansion postoperatively.