After being placed supine on the operating room table, anesthesia was induced and the patient intubated
without difficulty. The area of the entire abdominal wall was then prepped and draped in a sterile fashion and
a final time out then performed confirming right site and right patient.
A ten blade scalpel was used to make an upper midline celiotomy incision. Electrocautery was used for
hemostasis and to continue the dissection through all subcutaneous layers until the anterior fascia of the
rectus musculature could be identified. Electrocautery dissection was used to dissect subcutaneous tissues off
of the anterior abdominal wall fascia along the entire length of the midline incision until the rectus muscle
separation was completely exposed. The midline of the diastasis recti was then opened exposing the
abdominal cavity completely. At this point, a moderate sized diastasis recti with a small supra-umbilical
ventral hernia could be identified.
Using electrocautery, excess subcutaneous tissues and midline fascia was excised and discarded into order to
restore the normal boundaries of the medial aspect of the rectus musculature bilaterally. All layers of the
anterior abdominal wall were then re-approximated in the midline using running looped 0 PDS sutures. This
included completely re-approximating the inferior hernia defect primarily. The entire surgical field was then
copiously irrigated using diluted Betadine solution. The midline abdominal wall soft tissues were then reapproximated
in the midline in a layered and centrally mattressed fashion using interrupted 3-0 Vicryl
sutures. The midline incision was then closed using skin staples.
The primary hernia repair and plication of the diastasis recti complete, attention was now turned to the
laparoscopic portion of the hernia repairs with mesh implantation. After placing a left upper quadrant
abdominal port under direct visualization, pneumoperitoneum was achieved to a pressure of 15 mm Hg.
Three additional trocars were placed in the other anterior abdominal wall quadrants sequentially using a 15
blade scalpel to make separate transverse incisions and the laparoscope for direct visualization. Harmonic
scalpel dissection was then used to separate the Falciform ligament from the superior aspect of the primarily
re-approximated abdominal wall defect as well as adhesive disease inferior to the umbilicus to allow for a
smooth posterior abdominal wall surface for mesh attachment. Once cleared, the defect was measured and a
20 x 7 cm piece of Proceed composite mesh fashioned for fixation. Two corner 2-0 PDS sutures were placed
along the textured surface of this graft which was then irrigated using diluted Betadine solution, rolled,
passed into the abdominal cavity, and unrolled without difficulty. A suture passer was then used to
exteriorize each fixation suture through a small stab incision made in the anterior abdominal wall using an 11
blade scalpel. These sutures then allowed the mesh to lie smoothly across the midline ventral defects in an
underlay fashion. The patch was further secured in place using a 5 mm SecureStrap device at approximately
1.5 cm intervals circumferentially.
At this point, all ports were removed under direct visualization and pneumoperitoneum released in full. All
remaining skin incisions were then irrigated using diluted Betadine solution and re-approximated using
staples. The port site incisions were cleaned, dried and dressed sterilely using Bacitracin, Telfa gauze, and
Tegaderm. The suture passer incisions were closed using staples and the entire abdominal wall midline then
dressed using Bacitracin and an Aquacel Ag surgical coverlet. Sponge and instrument counts were confirmed
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Laparoscopic extraperitoneal repair of ventral hernias with mesh
Ventral Herna Repair code 49560 with 15830
I’m new to Plastic & Reconstruction and my surgeon wants to bill Ventral Hernia repair 49560 with 15830 Excision excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue. I’m not sure if we can bill those together since he was in the abdomen working to repair the hernia and if so do I use modifier 51 or 59?
Robot assisted laparoscopic mesh repair of incisional ventral herniae
Procedure: The patient was brought into the operating room. The patient was identified as correct patient. The patient was placed on operating table in supine position. Endotracheal General anesthesia was induced. Perioperative antibiotics were given. A time out was completed, verifying correct patient, procedure, site, positioning, implants and/or special equipment, blood loss, need for ICU, prior to beginning this procedure. Abdomen was prepped and draped in the usual sterile fashion.
A small 5 mm incision made in left upper quadrant and peritoneum entered via optiview and pneumoperitoneum achieved. Underlying bowel inspected and no iniury identified. A 12mm long laparoscopic port was inserted in the middle and*8 mm robotic port inserted just above and anterior of ASIS on*left side of abdomen. LUQ port was changed to 8mm robotic port. Mini lap inserted through 12 mm port and Robot was docked. A 30 up camera and scissors with cautery and Maryland*grasper were used. Above findings noted. Omental and small bowel adhesions were taken down and then preperitoneal fat taken down around the hernia defects to place the mesh.. Hernia defects measured and were*closed with permanent 0 Stratafix running suture. *An Atrium mosaic mesh was taken and trimmed to measurements and 2 Vicryl*0 suture were placed at the center of the mesh and in the centre of one half and mesh was rolled and inserted in the peritoneal cavity through 12 mm port. The Vicryl*sutures was then brought out through the skin using carter thomason at center of hernia defects to approximate the mesh to abdominal wall. The periphery of mesh was then sutured in place with running 2-0 Stratafix. The center of the mesh was fixed in same manner using 2-0 Stratafix. *At the conclusion of case the mesh was fixed with abdominal wall without tension or folds. The Vicryl sutures was then cut flush with the skin. All needles were removed. Robot was undocked. Using laparoscopic camera, minilap*were removed and peritoneal cavity was inspected for hemostasis.
Left middle*12mm port site wound closed with Vicryl*0, figure of eight sutures using carter thomason. Port site wound closed with Monocryl 4-0 subcuticular stiches and Dermabond placed.
All instrument, lap pad, needle count was correct x2 at the end of the procedure. The patient tolerated the procedure well and was extubated in operating room and transported to postanesthesia care unit in stable condition
Open Ventral hernia repair with panniculectomy
Would the panniculectomy be considered a separate service since in this instance the patient had a large hernia?
Thanks,
BB
Laparoscopic ‘component separation’ for ventral hernia repair
She did not state where she was told this, but it has always been my understanding that if a procedure is not specifically labeled as laparoscopic, thoracoscopic, endoscopic or arthroscopic, then it is considered an Open procedure. Unfortunately, it seems that this understanding is so wide-spread that I haven’t been able to find anything in writing to use in explaining this to her. Even the layman’s terms descriptions don’t actually say anything about making an incision down to the tissues being used to form the flaps.
Does anyone know of any resources I can use to explain this to her?