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Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Capture The Right Code For Manual Disimpaction of The Rectum

Published on Tue Jul 17, 2012

Question: Our gastroenterologist recently performed a manual disimpaction of the rectum under anesthesia. How do I report the procedure that our gastroenterologist performed?New Jersey SubscriberAnswer: In some patients, due to chronic constipation, there can be the possibility of fecal impaction wherein the person is not able to move the feces. This impaction can sometimes extend up to the sigmoid colon. This is more of a common occurrence in elderly inactive people although it is also known to occur in children and adolescents.To clear the impacted feces, your gastroenterologist might have to perform a manual disimpaction under anesthesia. To clear the impaction, your gastroenterologist will insert a gloved lubricated finger into the rectum and gently massage around the borders of the impaction and try to clear the mass by breaking it up. He might also use the aid of an instrument instead of using the finger to breakup the mass to [...]
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