tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2004 Issue 9

You Be the Coder: Include Control of Bleeding in Primary Procedure

Question: During bowel resection, our surgeon dictated that she performed "control of bleeding." How should we code that procedure? Arizona Subscriber Answer: When the surgeon performs a major procedure, such as a bowel resection (for example, 44202, Laparoscopy, surgical; enterectomy, resection of small intestine, single resection and anastomosis), control of bleeding is an included component of the surgery. If the surgeon provided extra work to control bleeding during a major procedure, you may attempt to gain additional reimbursement by appending modifier -22 (Unusual procedural services) to the appropriate CPT code. For instance, during repair of ruptured abdominal aneurysm...

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