tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2001 Issue 1

Reader Question: Colon Resection With Ileostomy and Mucous Fistula

Question: How should a laparotomy with irrigation of stool and formation of ileostomy with mucous fistula be coded? The surgeon performed a partial resection because the previous anastomosis came apart and spilled feces into the peritoneal cavity. The diagnosis was dehiscence of previous small bowel to colon anastomosis. Delaware SubscriberAnswer: Without an operative report, this procedure is difficult to code accurately. The failed anastomosis of the small bowel to colon was removed at the second operation, however, so the resection may be described as a kind of partial colectomy. The proximal active limb of the ileum digestive tract is...

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