repair of colon during cholecystectomy

[cooper1]

The px started out as a laparoscopic cholecystectomy but the converted to an open. The colon was punctured by the trocar. The colon was repaired then they did the open cholecystectomy. Can I code 44604 with the 47600?

thanks
tracey

[mjewett]

Colorrhaphy (44604) should not be coded when the injury to the colon was created during the same surgery. Sometimes the bowel is nicked, often times when doing lysis of adhesions. It is not appropriate to bill for suturing the bowel in that situation.
Melissa-CPC