© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
The procedure described by CPT® Code 44901 refers to the percutaneous incision and drainage of an appendiceal abscess. The appendix is a small, tubular structure that extends from the cecum, and an appendiceal abscess occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed and ruptures, leading to the formation of a pocket of pus. This condition is often a complication of acute appendicitis. In contrast to the open incision and drainage procedure outlined in CPT® Code 44900, which involves a surgical incision in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen, the percutaneous approach utilizes imaging guidance to access the abscess. This minimally invasive technique involves inserting a needle into the abscess pocket to aspirate pus, confirming the presence of infection. Following aspiration, a larger drainage catheter is placed to facilitate the continuous drainage of the abscess, allowing for effective management of the infection while minimizing recovery time and surgical trauma. The catheter may be adjusted within the abscess cavity to ensure thorough drainage, and it is typically left in place for several days to promote healing and collapse of the abscess cavity.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The procedure described by CPT® Code 44901 is indicated for the management of an appendiceal abscess, which typically arises as a complication of acute appendicitis. The following conditions may warrant this procedure:
The percutaneous incision and drainage of an appendiceal abscess involves several key procedural steps, which are detailed as follows:
Post-procedure care for patients undergoing percutaneous incision and drainage of an appendiceal abscess includes monitoring for signs of infection, ensuring the drainage catheter remains patent, and managing any discomfort. The catheter is usually left in place for several days, during which time the patient may require follow-up imaging to assess the resolution of the abscess. Patients should be advised on signs of complications, such as increased pain, fever, or changes in drainage output, and instructed to follow up with their healthcare provider for further evaluation and management as needed.
| Short Descr | DRAIN APP ABSCESS PERCUT | Medium Descr | I&D APPENDICEAL ABSC PRQ | Long Descr | Incision and drainage of appendiceal abscess; percutaneous | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | 000 - Endoscopic or Minor Procedure | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 2 - Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 1 - Statutory payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Procedure or Service, Multiple Reduction Applies | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | none | MUE | Not applicable/unspecified. | CCS Clinical Classification | 96 - Other OR lower GI therapeutic procedures |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-01 | Deleted | Deleted |
| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Short description changed. |
| 1998-01-01 | Added | Code added. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.