tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2001 Issue 1

Reader Question: Hemigastrectomy

Question: How would you code a hemigastrectomy?Vermont SubscriberAnswer: Selecting the right code depends on the portion of stomach that was removed and how the reconstruction of the stomach and small bowel was performed, says Susan Callaway, CPC, CCS-P, an independent coding and reimbursement specialist and educator in North Augusta, S.C. CPT 2001 lists three main gastrectomy codes: 43620 (gastrectomy, total; with esophagoenterostomy); 43631 (gastrectomy, partial, distal; with gastroduodenostomy); and, 43638 (gastrectomy, partial, proximal, thoracic or abdominal approach including esophagogastrostomy, with vagotomy). A hemigastrectomy implies that half the stomach was removed, therefore 43620 would not be correct. Depending...

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