tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2008 Issue 5

Correction: Don't Use Open Appendectomy Add-On With Laparoscopic Procedure

When reporting laparoscopic procedures, you should never use a code that describes an open approach. Unfortunately, while answering a recent reader question, the editors of General Surgery Coding Alert made just this mistake. The question ("Appendectomy Can Be Separate With Proof of Disease," Vol. 10, No. 2, page 15) stated, "Our surgeon performed a laparoscopic cholecystectomy and, while there, directed the laparoscope-into the right lower abdomen and - found the tip of the appendix to be firmer than - normal. He decided to remove the appendix also." The question went on to ask for the proper coding...

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