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Colonstomy location revision, small bowel resection, bladder repair

Hello! Any suggestions on how to code this? I am looking at 44346, but then would I just bill the 44120 for the small bowel. I know the bladder repair, and adhesiolysis is included.

After general endotracheal anesthesia, patient was positioned in supine position. The colostomy was closed with a running 2-0 silk suture. The patient was prepped and draped in the usual sterile fashion. A 10 blade scalpel was used for skin incision extending subxiphoid down to the pubic symphysis. The subcutaneous tissue was dissected using cautery down to the linea alba. The linea alba was then opened under direct visualization was extended superiorly and inferiorly. Edges of the fascia was grasp with Kockers and lysis of adhesions were carried out using cautery. A Balfour retractor was then placed with good exposure. A loop of small bowel was tethered to the pelvis, bladder and rectal stump. This loop was mobilized out of the pelvis with sharp dissection and cautery. After freeing the entire small bowel, it was inspected for any injuries. The loop of small bowel in the pelvis appeared to be thickened from previous radiation with serosal tears. The serosal tears were attempted to be over sewn with 3.0 vicryl but would tear and not hold sutures. I suspect from previous radiation damage. I then decided to resect this loop of distal ilium measuring approximately 15 cm. Using a GIA stapler the proximal and distal ends of the loop were divided. The small bowel then was aligned in a side to side fashion with 3.0 silk sutures. End enterotomies were performed using cautery. A 75cm GIA was placed in the enterotomies creating a side to side anastomosis. The end enterotomies were aligned with Alice graspers and closed using a TX 60 stapler. Once the small bowel had been mobilized out of the pelvis and resected, the rectum was attempted to be identified however is very thickened peritoneum the as well as bladder. The first assist placed rectal dilators in the rectum for easier palpation and mobilization. However, the previous staple line was unable to be identified. The peritoneum was thicken but the rectum could be palpated. An elliptical skin incision was performed around the colostomy and the subcutaneous tissues dissected to the fascia. Patient was noted to have a parastomal hernia and the hernia sac was also dissected free and transected. The proximal colon then was able to be mobilized intra-abdominally from the ostomy site. The proximal colon was transected using the a 75 GIA stapler to healthy appearing colonic tissue. An EEA 29 mm anvil was secured in the proximal end with a #1 PDS using a pursestring. The EEA stapler was then placed transrectally. The spiked end was barely visible secondary to the thickened wall. The rectal stump was attempted to be skeletonalized by scoring the perirectal fat and peritoneum. There appeared blood in the foley catheter. The first assist back filled the catheter no leak. Continued dissection revealed the bladder was draped over the rectum. I was unable to separate the bladder from the rectum. The posterior bladder wall had been opened during this dissection. The bladder was closed in a 2 layered fashion. First layer was closed using 3-0 chromic and the second layer with 3-0 Vicryl. A #19 French Blake drain was then placed in the pelvis exiting the left lower quadrant and secured to the skin with a 2-0 silk suture. The colo-rectal anastomosis was then abandoned secondary to frozen pelvis and inability to mobilize the rectum to make the anastomosis. The previous ostomy site hernia was closed using 1.0 PDS for the posterior rectus sheath and a 1.0 Vicryl on the anterior rectus sheath. A new ostomy site was created in the right lower quadrant. Using an Alice grasper, the skin was incised in a circular manor. The subcutaneous tissue was dissected using cautery. The anterior rectus sheath was opened two finger breaths and dilated. The sigmoid colon was then delivered through this opening. Copious irrigations were applied and meticulous hemostasis was maintained throughout the procedure. All needles and sponge counts were correct ×2. The midline fascia was closed using a running #1 PDS superiorly and inferiorly. The subcutaneous tissue was irrigated. The skin was then closed using staples. The left ostomy site was also closed with staples. The newly relocated ostomy in the right lower quadrant was then matured using 3.0 vicryl sutures and a clostomy bag was placed. Sterile dressing was applied and the patient was transferred to recovery room in stable condition.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Transvaginal Bladder Neck Closure

Looking for assistance in finding a CPT code for a transvaginal bladder neck closure with Acell graft. Can anyone help me with this?

Preoperative Diagnosis
urinary incontinence, NGB

Postoperative Diagnosis
same

Name of Operation
1. transvaginal bladder neck closure with Acell graft
2. cystoscopy with intravesical botox injection
3. SPT placement

Description of Operation Performed, Including Technique
The risks, benefits and alternatives were explained to the patient and informed consent obtained. She was brought to the OR and placed on the table in supine position. After undergoing adequate anesthesia, she was placed in the dorsal lithotomy position. She was prepped and draped in standard fashion. Prior to the beginning of the procedure, a timeout was performed to identify the patient. Perioperative antibiotics were given within 1 hour of incision.

A flexible cystoscopy was performed and the bladder was visualized. No stones, masses or diverticuli noted. The bladder was difficult to distend secondary to a patulous urethra. A botox sheath was placed through the scope and 100 units of botoz was injected into the bladder into 10 sites with a 27 g needle. The trigone was avoided. Hemostasis was evident. The scope was removed.

The bladder was filled with 150 ml of saline and a Lowsley tractor was placed through the urethra and advanced toward the abdominal wall. She was placed in steep trandelenburg position. A 1 cm incision was made just above the pubic symphysis and electrocautery was used to dissect down to the fascia. The Lowsley was palpated and the fascia was opened at the site of the Lowsley. The claws were opened once visualized and a 20F catheter was placed into the tractor and brought through the bladder out of the urethra. The tip of the catheter was grasped and placed into the bladder. 10 ml was placed in the balloon and the catheter was brought to the dome of the bladder. The subcutaneous tissue was closed with 2-0 vicryl suture. The SPT was secured with two 2-0 silk sutures to the skin.

A 16F foley was placed into the urethra with 30 ml placed into the balloon. The anterior vaginal wall was infiltrated with normal saline. A Lonestar retractor was placed for visualization. A circumferential incision was made around the urethra with a #15 blade. Metzenbaum scissors were used to dissect away the periurethral tissue circumferentially to perform a formal urethrolysis. Lateral vaginal wall flaps were developed for later closure. Once the entire urethra was mobilized the foley was removed. The urethra was closed with two 2-0 vicryl sutures in 2 layers. A piece of Acell graft was then soaked for 15 minutes in saline and placed over the urethra. It was secured to the periurethral tissue with interrupted 3-0 vicryl sutures. The urethra was then rotated anteriorly and secured to the tissue posterior to the pubic symphysis with multiple interrupted 3-0 vicryl sutures. The suture line was no longer visible. The wound was copiously irrigated with saline. The vaginal mucosa was closed with multiple running, locking 2-0 vicryl sutures. Hemostatis was evident. The vagina was irrigated and Kerlix packing with antibiotic ointment was placed in the vagina.

The sponge, needle and instrument counts were correct at the end of the procedure.

I was present and scrubbed for the entire case.

The patient tolerated the procedure well.

Description of Any Drains, Catheters, or Packing Left in Place
20F SPT, Kerlix vaginal packing

Findings
patulous urethra

I would appreciate any help on this – thank you in advance!

~Kara

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Bladder Neck Contracture Dilation / attempted contracture incision

Looking for some advice on the following:

PREOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS: Bladder neck contracture.

POSTOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS: Bladder neck contracture.

OPERATION: Cystoscopy, bladder neck dilation, Foley placement,
attempted bladder neck incision.

INDICATIONS FOR SURGERY:
The patient has a history of TURP in the past with bladder neck contracture and hematuria. The patient also has obstructive urinary symptoms, comes in for bladder neck incision,
ended up with dilation,
see below.

DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION:
The patient was identified in the waiting room and brought into the
OR. Preoperative antibiotics were provided. Anesthesia was
administered. The patient was placed in lithotomy position, then
prepped and draped in a standard sterile surgical fashion. Time-out
was performed. Consent was verified. Next, a 19-French cystoscope
with a 30-degree lens was inserted into the urethra. No strictures
in the anterior urethra. Prostatic fossa appeared open. The
bladder neck was very tight and contracted. I could not easily pass
the scope. Next, a Sensor wire was passed through the scope into
the bladder. The scope was removed. Next, I decided to dilate the
bladder neck a little bit so I can pass the urethra tome with the
Collins knife using blue plastic dilators. I slowly dilated the
bladder neck from size 18 to size 24, which was the biggest dilator
I had. The Collins knife was only available to use with the
26-French sheath and obturator. I removed the wire and slowly tried
to pass the 26 sheath with an internal obturator. I did meet some
resistance at the bladder neck. I then stopped. Inserted a camera.
I could see the bladder neck opening, but also the patient appeared
to have a false passage to the right side at the level of the
prostate. I then decided to just leave a Foley catheter.
Again, I
placed a 19-French scope, passed a wire into the bladder. I again
passed a dilator. The 24-French dilator passed easily into the
bladder without resistance. A 22-French Council tip Foley catheter
was then passed over the wire into the bladder. Balloon inflated
with 15 mL of sterile water. Urine output was clear. No hematuria
was noted. The patient tolerated the procedure well, was sent to
recovery room in stable condition.

At first, I was planning to just bill 52281 for the contracture dilation, but since the intent was to initially do the incision, would it be more appropriate to bill as 52276-52? I have read articles from the AUA’s Michael Ferragamo stating 52276 is appropriate for contracture incisions secondary to prostatectomies. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Heparin in bladder instillations – HELP!

Our urogynecology office does bladder instillations frequently, & always bills Heparin. I just want to make sure we are billing them correctly. I discovered recently that we are incorrectly billing the units of HEPARIN. Chart states 40,000 units, we’ve been billing 1. Yikes!

Here is how we code the instillations –

51700
81003-59
J1644 1 unit (Heparin)
J2001-59 1 unit (lidocaine)
A4550 (sterile tray)

With this newly found error in units for Heparin – we are trying to figure out the new "cost" for J1644. Right now 1 unit is $ 14. Where can I find this info? Because if I code Heparin properly, that would be 40 units (40 X 1,000 = 40,000 units)….which will DOUBLE the cost of the instillation – that doesn’t seem right? The office is not being very helpful in finding this info. out – they claim it is included in the cost of the tray? But Mediare denies the tray’s so then they get $ 0.00 ?

Any help anyone can offer would be GREAT! Thanks.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum