CPT® Code 47500

Deleted

The CPT® Code 47500 refers to the injection procedure for percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, a diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize the bile ducts. This procedure involves a series of steps that begin with the preparation of the skin and the creation of a small incision at the site where the catheter will be inserted. The typical access points for this procedure are strategically chosen based on the anatomy of the liver; either the right midaxillary line below the tenth rib for accessing the right hepatic lobe or the epigastrium for the left hepatic lobe. A small diameter needle is then carefully inserted through the skin, traversing the liver tissue to reach the bile duct. Once the needle is positioned correctly within the bile duct, a small volume of contrast media is injected to confirm the accurate placement of the needle. Following this confirmation, a guidewire is introduced through the needle into the bile duct, allowing for the removal of the needle. Subsequently, an angiography catheter is advanced over the guidewire, which is then removed. The procedure culminates with the injection of additional contrast media, enabling visualization of the bile ducts through imaging techniques. It is important to note that while this code encompasses the catheter insertion and contrast injection, the radiographic supervision and interpretation of the resulting cholangiogram are billed separately under different codes.