tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2004 Issue 9

Reader Question: Treat 'Lap-Assisted' Colectomy as Open

Question: What is the appropriate code for a "lap-assisted" colectomy? The surgeon makes an incision, brings the colon into the abdomen, performs the excision and anastomosis and returns the colon, using the laparoscope to lyse adhesions. Does this count as an open procedure? Maryland SubscriberAnswer: Yes, you should treat a laparoscopically assisted colectomy as an open procedure. Therefore, the appropriate code is 44152 (Colectomy, total, abdominal, without proctectomy; with rectal mucosectomy, ileoanal anastomosis, with or without loop ileostomy) rather than 44211 (Laparoscopy, surgical; colectomy, total, abdominal, with proctectomy, with ileoanal anastomosis, creation of ileal reservoir [S or J], with...

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