General Surgery Coding Alert
Reader Questions:
Gastric Bypass Won't Change EGD Coding
Published on Sat Sep 03, 2005
Question: How should I bill an endoscopy for a patient who has had a gastric bypass procedure?
North Carolina Subscriber
Answer: Because the surgeon may not be able to reach the jejunum and duodenum by endoscopy (as a result of the gastric bypass), you may be tempted to report 43200 (Esophagoscopy, rigid or flexible; diagnostic, with or without collection of specimen[s] by brushing or washing [separate procedure]).
But this procedure is still an EGD, so the correct option is 43235 (Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy including esophagus, stomach, and either the duodenum and/or jejunum as appropriate; diagnostic, with or without collection of specimen[s] by brushing or washing [separate procedure]).
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