April 21, 2022

Question:
The surgeon described the procedure as a ‘hand assisted laparoscopy”. He brought part of the bowel outside of the body for evaluation. Does this convert the procedure to open?

Answer:
Mobilizing the bowel outside the body (extracorporeally) during a laparoscopic procedure does not convert the procedure to open, it is still considered a laparoscopic procedure and coded as laparoscopic.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 04/21/22.