tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2010 Issue 9

Reader Questions: Include Exploration in Main Laparoscopic Procedure Code

Question: The surgeon performed an exploratory laparoscopy with laparoscopic drainage of an intra-abdominal abscess and EGD. The patient recently underwent gastic bypass. Should I use 49322, 49323, or another code?Supercoder.com Forum MemberAnswer: You're correct in your inclination to turn to 49322 (Laparoscopy, surgical; with aspiration of cavity or cyst [eg, ovarian cyst] [single or multiple]). Typically you'll see 49322 used for ovarian cysts as suggested in the code descriptor, but it is in fact the correct code for this case as well. You can use 49322 for drainage of any loculated fluid or semi-liquid material.Beware: You...

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