tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2001 Issue 10

Clinical Knowledge Aids Selection of Partial Colectomy Codes

Reporting partial colectomies can be difficult due to the clinical nature of the procedures. For example, most partial colectomies typically involve intestinal anastomosis and/or colostomy. Some of these procedures also include mucofistulas and ileocolostomies. Also, partial colectomies differ according to how the colon was approached and the section of colon removed. A coder unfamiliar with the anatomy of the digestive system may confuse the proper partial-colectomy code with another of the several procedures in CPT that include partial colectomy. A poorly written operative report can likewise result in incorrect coding. Distinguishing Basic and Other Colectomies  Partial-colectomy codes are...

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