AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2009 Issue 1; Ask the Editor
Incision of Gluteal Abscess
A patient was admitted with a very large draining abscess of the right gluteal area. An incision was performed with immediate expulsion of purulent material and culture and sensitivity was obtained. What is the proper code assignment for the procedure? ...
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Article Overview
This brief coding article explains how to approach a procedure note involving a gluteal abscess and points to the relevant ICD-9-CM procedure classification. It is aimed at coders and billing staff who need to match a documented drainage procedure to the appropriate code set reference and understand the indexing path used in the source guidance.
Why This Topic Matters
Correctly identifying the procedural code for abscess drainage supports accurate inpatient coding, claim processing, and record abstraction. The article is useful when reviewing procedure documentation that includes drainage, specimen collection, and anatomic site context.
What You Will Learn
- How the article frames coding for a gluteal abscess drainage procedure.
- Which code set is referenced in the source guidance.
- How the source uses the alphabetic index to support code lookup.
- The general documentation context described in the procedure note.
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Hospital billing staff
- Health information management professionals
Codes Discussed
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