tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2003 Issue 9

Reader Question: Report 43631 or 43638 for Hemigastrectomy

Question: What is hemigastrectomy, and how should I code for it? Arizona SubscriberAnswer: Hemigastrectomy means partial ("hemi") removal of the stomach ("gastrectomy"). CPT includes three primary gastrectomy codes: 43620 - Gastrectomy, total; with esophagoenterostomy 43631 - Gastrectomy, partial, distal; with gastroduodenostomy 43638 - Gastrectomy, partial, proximal, thoracic or abdominal approach including esophagogastrostomy, with vagotomy. Because 43620 describes a total removal, you would not bill this code for a hemigastrectomy. Therefore, depending on which portion of the stomach the surgeon removed, you would report either 43631 or 43638. The remaining gastrectomy codes (43632, Gastrectomy, partial, distal; with gastro-jejunostomy; 43633, Gastrectomy...

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