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Official Description

Resection or debridement of pancreas and peripancreatic tissue for acute necrotizing pancreatitis

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

Resection or debridement of the pancreas and peripancreatic tissue is a surgical procedure performed to address acute necrotizing pancreatitis, a severe condition characterized by the destruction of pancreatic tissue due to inflammation. This inflammation is primarily caused by the autodigestion of the pancreas by its own digestive enzymes, leading to the formation of parenchymal abscesses and potential hemorrhaging. In acute necrotizing pancreatitis, the pancreas and surrounding tissues become necrotic, which can result in significant complications if not managed appropriately. The procedure involves the careful removal of necrotic tissue, which may include both the pancreas itself and the peripancreatic fat, as the latter is typically the first to undergo necrosis. Surgical intervention is generally considered only when there is evidence of bacterial or fungal infection within the necrotic tissue, as indicated by Gram stain or culture results from aspirated samples. The goal of the surgery is to remove infected and necrotic tissue to prevent further complications and promote recovery, while minimizing the risk to the patient. An abdominal incision is made to access the pancreas, and the surrounding tissues are meticulously dissected and retracted to allow for adequate visualization and access to the affected areas. After the necrotic tissue is excised, drains are placed to facilitate fluid management, and the surgical site is subsequently closed.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The procedure of resection or debridement of the pancreas and peripancreatic tissue is indicated for the following conditions:

  • Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis This condition is characterized by extensive inflammation and necrosis of the pancreas, often accompanied by parenchymal abscesses and hemorrhaging due to the autodigestion of pancreatic tissue by its own enzymes.
  • Presence of Infection Surgical intervention is warranted when there is a positive identification of bacteria or fungi in the necrotic tissue, as determined by Gram stain or culture of aspirated samples.

2. Procedure

The procedure involves several critical steps to ensure effective removal of necrotic tissue and management of the patient's condition:

  • Step 1: Abdominal Incision An incision is made in the abdominal wall to provide access to the pancreas. The location and size of the incision may vary based on the extent of the disease and the surgeon's preference.
  • Step 2: Dissection and Retraction The surrounding tissues are carefully dissected and retracted to expose the pancreas and peripancreatic area. This step is crucial for gaining adequate visibility and access to the affected tissues.
  • Step 3: Identification of Necrotic Tissue The surgeon identifies areas of necrosis within the pancreas and the surrounding peripancreatic fat. This identification is essential for determining the extent of tissue that needs to be resected or debrided.
  • Step 4: Resection and Debridement The necrotic and infected tissue is excised. This may involve resecting portions of the pancreas itself, as well as removing the surrounding peripancreatic fat that has undergone necrosis.
  • Step 5: Drain Placement After the necrotic tissue has been removed, drains are placed in the surgical site to facilitate the drainage of any residual fluids and to prevent the accumulation of fluid collections.
  • Step 6: Closure of the Wound The surgical site is then closed in layers, ensuring that the abdominal wall is properly sutured to promote healing and minimize complications.

3. Post-Procedure

Post-procedure care involves monitoring the patient for signs of infection, managing pain, and ensuring proper drainage from the surgical site. Patients may require supportive care, including intravenous fluids and nutritional support, as they recover from the surgery. The recovery process can vary depending on the extent of the surgery and the patient's overall health. Regular follow-up appointments are necessary to assess healing and to monitor for any potential complications that may arise following the procedure.

Short Descr RESECT/DEBRIDE PANCREAS
Medium Descr RESECJ/DBRDMT PANCREAS NECROTIZING PANCREATITIS
Long Descr Resection or debridement of pancreas and peripancreatic tissue for acute necrotizing pancreatitis
Status Code Active Code
Global Days 090 - Major Surgery
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) 2 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery does not apply to this procedure...
Co-Surgeons (62) 1 - Co-surgeons could be paid, though supporting documentation is required...
Team Surgery (66) 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Diagnostic Imaging Family 99 - Concept Does Not Apply
APC Status Indicator Inpatient Procedures, not paid under OPPS
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P1G - Major procedure - Other
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 99 - Other OR gastrointestinal therapeutic procedures
22 Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
47 Anesthesia by surgeon: regional or general anesthesia provided by the surgeon may be reported by adding modifier 47 to the basic service. (this does not include local anesthesia.) note: modifier 47 would not be used as a modifier for the anesthesia procedures.
51 Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d).
52 Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use).
58 Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78.
59 Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25.
62 Two surgeons: when 2 surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct part(s) of a procedure, each surgeon should report his/her distinct operative work by adding modifier 62 to the procedure code and any associated add-on code(s) for that procedure as long as both surgeons continue to work together as primary surgeons. each surgeon should report the co-surgery once using the same procedure code. if additional procedure(s) (including add-on procedure(s) are performed during the same surgical session, separate code(s) may also be reported with modifier 62 added. note: if a co-surgeon acts as an assistant in the performance of additional procedure(s), other than those reported with the modifier 62, during the same surgical session, those services may be reported using separate procedure code(s) with modifier 80 or modifier 82 added, as appropriate.
78 Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, see modifier 76.)
79 Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.)
80 Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s).
82 Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon not available): the unavailability of a qualified resident surgeon is a prerequisite for use of modifier 82 appended to the usual procedure code number(s).
AS Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
Date
Action
Notes
2007-01-01 Added First appearance in code book in 2007.
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