tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2018 Issue 4

You Be the Coder: Colon Resection Connection Drives Code Choice

Question: I'm trying to code a note titled "partial colectomy," in which the surgeon describes removing 10 inches of large intestine and connecting the bowel following the resection using a "low-pelvic anastomosis with temporary colostomy." How should I code this? Indiana Subscriber Answer: The first thing we need to know is whether the procedure is open or laparoscopic. The answer to that question will lead to two different code choices. Let's look at both options. A low-pelvic anastomosis is the same procedure as a coloproctostomy, which means that the surgeon attaches the resected end of the colon...

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