tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2005 Issue 9

You Be the Coder: What's the Choice for Lap Ventral Hernia?

Question: Using a laparoscope, the surgeon repaired an incarcerated ventral hernia with implantation of mesh. We are unable to find a suitable code for this procedure.Georgia SubscriberAnswer: You should select 49659 (Unlisted laparoscopy procedure, hernioplasty, herniorrhaphy, herniotomy) for the hernia repair.Choose the unlisted-procedure code because only inguinal hernias include codes to describe laparoscopic repair (49650, Laparoscopy, surgical; repair initial inguinal hernia). Likewise, you should stay away from 49560 (Repair initial incisional or ventral hernia; reducible) because the code descriptor does not specify "laparoscopic."As in all cases when you report an unlisted-procedure code, you should provide full...

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