AAPC - credentialing the business side of medicine

xjessix12517 · #1 03-06-2009, 06:26 AM

The patient had mobilization of colon, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and decompression of small bowel/colon. Also He had a repair of serosal tear.

All they did was suture large instentine. How would you code the repair of serosal tear?

I have 44021 for decompression of small bowel
45330 for diagnostic sigmoidoscopy
and 44139 for mobilization of colon.

Please help!

DVoyles · #2 03-06-2009, 06:52 AM

try looking at the 44604 - suture of large intestine for perforated ulcer, diverticulum, wound, injury or rupture (single or multiple); w/out colostomy

spitfire · #3 06-24-2010, 07:19 AM

44139 is for mobilization of splenic flexure to be used with codes 44140-44147.

LindaEV · #4 06-24-2010, 12:47 PM

Yeah, you can't code the 44139. This is an add on code for use with colectomies.

As for the repair of the serosal tear...not always billable either. The code is 44604, but if this "tear" was done during the physicians moblization (the serosa is a thin membrane, so its not hard to do), I would not code it. If it was a larger injury, that actually penetrated the intestine, I would bill it, with the V code for accidental injury during op.