Anesthesia Coding Alert
Infraumbilical Exploration Points to 00840
Question: The surgeon made an incision down to the fascia where he had previously repaired an umbilical hernia with mesh. The exploration was carried out below the umbilicus but did not uncover any mesh or any other pathology that would be causing the patient’s infraumbilical pain. What would be the correct anesthesia code for exploration of infraumbilical area?
Maryland Subscriber
Answer: The correct surgical code for the procedure is 49000 (Exploratory laparotomy, exploratory celiotomy with or without biopsy[s] [separate procedure]). Code 49000 crosses to anesthesia code 00840 (Anesthesia for intraperitoneal procedures in lower abdomen including laparoscopy; not otherwise specified), valued at six units. The alternate anesthesia code recommended by the American Society of Anesthesiologists is 00790 (Anesthesia for intraperitoneal procedures in upper abdomen including laparoscopy; not otherwise specified), which carries seven base units. Be sure that the anesthesiologist’s documentation supports whichever code you decide to report.
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