tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2013 Issue 9

You Be the Coder: 44141 Describes Temporary Colostomy

Question: Following a sigmoid colectomy with end-to-end anastomosis from descending colon to anterior wall of distal sigmoid colon, patient returns to surgery three days later for the following: Surgeon opens peritoneal cavity to find descending colon disrupted from distal segment of anastomosis, spilling bowel contents. He closed the ruptured anastomosis with sutures in transverse fashion (perpendicular to the long axis of the bowel). Upon further inspection, surgeon resected a dusky-looking 10 cm of descending colon as an end colostomy to a site in the lower left quadrant. Can I report 44143 and 44604 for the return procedures? Indiana Subscriber...

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