tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2014 Issue 4

Reader Question: Brush Up on Umbilical Hernia Diagnosis

Question:  What is the correct diagnosis code for an umbilical hernia with obstruction? The surgeon noted gangrene during the repair procedure. How will the coding for this condition change with ICD-10?  Massachusetts Subscriber Answer:  The correct ICD-9 code is 551.1 (Umbilical hernia with gangrene). You’ll notice that this code doesn’t mention obstruction. The code for umbilical hernia with obstruction (552.1, Umbilical hernia with obstruction) doesn’t mention gangrene. That leaves you to figure out how to report an umbilical hernia with gangrene and with obstruction. That’s where you’ll need to...

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