tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2008 Issue 5

Reader Questions: Watch for Separate Cholangiography, Chole

Question: Which is the correct code to describe "radiologic examination of the bile ducts" when performed with cholecystectomy? Minnesota Subscriber Answer: The appropriate code to describe cholecystectomy with cholangiography (radiologic examination of the bile ducts) is 47563 (Laparoscopy, surgical; cholecystectomy with cholangiography) for laparoscopic approach or 47605 (Cholecystectomy; with cholangiography) for an open procedure. Many surgeons perform cholangiography as a standard component of cholecystectomy, and you must be careful to discern the cholangiography in the operative report. Because the surgeon considers the cholangiography routine, he may fail to note the procedure in the operative report summary. But if the...

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