31720 Clearance of airways
Also known as: airway clearance, airway suctioning, secretion removal
Clearance of airways by suctioning, removal of secretions, or mechanical clearance of mucus plugs, blood, or other obstructive material from tracheal and bronchial passages.
In Plain Language
cleaning and clearing the breathing tubes
Clinical Context
Performed in patients with impaired airway clearance, mucus plugging, or secretion accumulation causing hypoxemia or ventilation compromise.
RVU Breakdown
| Work RVU | 1.03 |
| Total RVU | 1.03 |
Est. Medicare Payment
National estimate based on 2026 CMS PFS Conversion Factor ($33.40). Actual payment varies by locality (GPCI adjustment).
Billing & Documentation
As a surgical CPT code, proper documentation must include the operative report detailing the procedure performed, patient positioning, approach, findings, and any complications. This code has a 0-day global period, meaning pre- and post-operative E&M visits are billable separately on the same day. Ensure the diagnosis code (ICD-10) supports medical necessity for the procedure.
How This Code Compares
With a work RVU of 1.03, this code ranks in the 5th percentile among Surgery codes — 7.8x below the median (8.00). The highest wRVU in this category is 106.19.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 31720?
CPT 31720 (Clearance of airways) is a Surgery code. Clearance of airways by suctioning, removal of secretions, or mechanical clearance of mucus plugs, blood, or other obstructive material from tracheal and bronchial passages.
What is the wRVU value for CPT 31720?
The work RVU for CPT 31720 is 1.03. This code is primarily used by Critical Care, Respiratory Therapy, Pulmonology.
When is CPT 31720 used?
Performed in patients with impaired airway clearance, mucus plugging, or secretion accumulation causing hypoxemia or ventilation compromise.
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CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Data sourced from CMS Physician Fee Schedule RVU26A. Descriptions, synonyms, and clinical context are original content by RVU Edge.