Completion Thyroidectomy or Lobectomy

I have a surgeon that initially was to perform a total thyroidectomy on a patient. After the right lobe was completely removed, the patient had some issues during the surgery and they terminated the rest of the procedure. Now, weeks later, the patient comes back for the removal of the left lobe. The surgeon wants to use 60260 (removal of all remaining thyroid tissue following previous removal of a portion of the thyroid). I feel this is the wrong code, as there is no more remaining right lobe, and that this should be a lobectomy code, 60220, instead because he is removing the left lobe at this time. Any advice? Thanks in advance.Richard

re: Completion Thyroidectomy or Lobectomy

60260 would only be used if the patient had previously had a portion of their thyroid removed, if it is for a bilateral procedure Modifier 50 should be reported.    
If reporting 60220, modifier 52 may be appropriate. I would send notes with the claim to avoid any confusion.52           Reduced services: under certain circumstances, a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the physician's discretion. under these circumstances, the service provided can be identified

re: Completion Thyroidectomy or Lobectomy

Thank you very much.