Wiki Reducible vs Incarcerated Hernia

[cayoung]

It would seem that determining whether to use a reducible vs an incarcerated CPT code would be simple enough. Here goes...A physician is noting that an incarcerated hernia was repaired. Within the dictation, the incarcerated fat is reduced and a patch applied. So, is this incarcerated or reducible? Can incarcerated hernia only contain "fat"? Or must it contain bowel, too? (I'm looking at CPT codes 49655 vs 49654.)

 

[aguelfi]

I would ask the doctor for clarification. I've had the same scenerio and have had to check.

 

[jdrueppel]

It's my understanding that an incarcerated hernia is a hernia which cannot be externally manually reduced. An incarcerated hernia may contain fat, omentum, or bowel. This hernia was surgically reduced intra-operatively which is part of the repair -- the surgeon is not going to repair a hernia without reducing the incarceration. This procedure should be coded as an incarcerated hernia repair.

Julie, CPC

 

[jaimewicklund]

I agree with Julie. And to answer your question, a hernia can be incarcerated with different things. Fat, bowel, etc...

Jaime, CPC