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Official Description

Pancreaticojejunostomy, side-to-side anastomosis (Puestow-type operation)

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

A pancreaticojejunostomy, side-to-side anastomosis, commonly referred to as a Puestow-type operation, is a surgical procedure primarily indicated for patients experiencing severe pain due to chronic pancreatitis. This operation aims to alleviate pain by facilitating the drainage of pancreatic secretions directly into the intestine. The procedure involves making a significant abdominal incision that extends from beneath the breastbone to the navel, allowing the surgeon to access the pancreas effectively. Once the pancreas is exposed, the main duct of the pancreas is carefully opened from the head to the tail, which is crucial for the subsequent steps of the operation. A loop of jejunum, which is a part of the small intestine, is then brought up to create a connecting fistula. This connection is essential as it allows for the drainage of pancreatic fluids. The entire open pancreatic duct is sutured into the defunctionalized jejunal loop, resulting in a longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy. This side-to-side anastomosis is designed to enable pancreatic secretions to flow directly into the intestine, thereby reducing the pressure within the pancreatic duct and alleviating the symptoms associated with chronic pancreatitis.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The pancreaticojejunostomy, side-to-side anastomosis (Puestow-type operation) is indicated in specific clinical scenarios, particularly for patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis. The following conditions warrant this surgical intervention:

  • Severe Pain: Patients experiencing debilitating pain due to chronic pancreatitis that is not manageable through conservative treatment options.

2. Procedure

The procedure of pancreaticojejunostomy, side-to-side anastomosis involves several critical steps to ensure successful outcomes. Each step is meticulously performed to achieve the desired results.

  • Step 1: Abdominal Incision An extensive abdominal incision is made, typically from beneath the breastbone to the navel. This incision provides the necessary access to the pancreas for the surgeon to perform the subsequent steps of the operation.
  • Step 2: Exposure of the Pancreas Once the incision is made, the surgeon carefully exposes the pancreas, ensuring that all surrounding structures are preserved to minimize complications.
  • Step 3: Opening the Pancreatic Duct The main duct of the pancreas is then opened from the head to the tail. This step is crucial as it allows for the drainage of pancreatic secretions, which is the primary goal of the procedure.
  • Step 4: Creation of Jejunal Loop A loop of jejunum, which is a segment of the small intestine, is brought up to the site of the pancreas. This jejunal loop will serve as the conduit for pancreatic secretions.
  • Step 5: Suturing the Duct to Jejunum The open pancreatic duct is sutured into the defunctionalized jejunal loop. This connection forms a longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy, allowing pancreatic secretions to drain directly into the intestine.

3. Post-Procedure

After the completion of the pancreaticojejunostomy, patients typically require careful monitoring and post-operative care. This may include pain management, monitoring for any signs of complications such as infection or leakage from the anastomosis, and ensuring proper nutritional support as the patient begins to recover. The expected recovery period may vary based on individual patient factors, but close follow-up is essential to assess the success of the procedure and the patient's overall health status.

Short Descr FUSE PANCREAS AND BOWEL
Medium Descr PANCREATICOJEJUNOSTOMY SIDE-TO-SIDE ANAST
Long Descr Pancreaticojejunostomy, side-to-side anastomosis (Puestow-type operation)
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.
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
Date
Action
Notes
2007-01-01 Added First appearance in code book in 2007.
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