General Surgery Coding Alert
Zero in on Scrotal Hernia Code
Question: The surgeon performs laparoscopic hernia repair for a strangulated left scrotal hernia. What is the correct ICD-10 code for the condition?
Codify Subscriber
Answer: You don’t mention that the patient has a history with this hernia, or any evidence of gangrene, so the best code for the case is K40.30 (Unilateral inguinal hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, not specified as recurrent).
ICD-10 lists “scrotal hernia” in the “includes” list for inguinal hernia code family K40. Because the surgeon documents that the hernia is in the left scrotum, and that it is strangulated (with obstruction), you should turn to the more specific code K40.3x.
Finally, with no mention that this is a recurrent hernia, you should narrow the code selection to K40.30.
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