tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2002 Issue 3

Continue to Use Unlisted-Procedure Code for Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair

General surgeons who expected CPT 2002 to include a code for reporting laparoscopic repair (LR) of ventral/incisional hernias, take note: Continue to use unlisted-procedure code 49659 (Unlisted laparoscopy procedure, hernioplasty, herniorrhaphy, herniotomy) to report this procedure.   Although CPT 2002 includes two codes for LR of inguinal hernias 49650 (Laparoscopy, surgical; repair initial inguinal hernia) and 49651 ( repair recurrent inguinal hernia) it does not include a code for LR of ventral/incisional hernias. These complications commonly develop after a patient has had open abdominal surgery, and they often require surgical repair. Fascia and skin are sutured closed after surgery...

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