Our patient had a large hernia, approximately the size of a volleyball. Our surgeon elected to perform a partial panniculectomy so the hernia could be closed reasonably without a giant (seroma) cavity. I am having trouble visualizing this. There is a CCI edit between the codes 49561 and 15830.

Would the panniculectomy be considered a separate service since in this instance the patient had a large hernia?

Thanks,
BB