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The procedure described by CPT® Code 49460 involves the mechanical removal of obstructive material from various types of feeding tubes, including gastrostomy, duodenostomy, jejunostomy, gastrojejunostomy, cecostomy, or other colonic tubes. This intervention is necessary when these tubes become obstructed, which can impede the delivery of nutrition or medication to patients who rely on these feeding methods. The procedure is performed under fluoroscopic guidance, which allows for real-time imaging of the tube's position and the obstructive material. The use of fluoroscopy is critical as it ensures that the physician can accurately visualize the anatomy and the obstruction, facilitating effective removal. During the procedure, the physician may utilize various methods to break up the obstructive material, including the use of wires and guidewires. If these initial attempts are unsuccessful, a mechanical device may be employed to assist in dislodging the obstruction. The process may require multiple passes of the wire to ensure that all obstructive material is effectively cleared and pushed into the stomach or intestine. Once the obstruction is fully resolved, the catheter is flushed to ensure patency, and contrast media may be injected to confirm that the tube is functioning correctly. Continuous radiographic imaging is utilized throughout the procedure, and documentation of the images, along with a written report, is included as part of the procedure's requirements. This comprehensive approach ensures that the procedure is performed safely and effectively, with thorough documentation for medical records and billing purposes.
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The procedure described by CPT® Code 49460 is indicated for patients who have obstructive material in their gastrostomy, duodenostomy, jejunostomy, gastrojejunostomy, cecostomy, or other colonic tubes. The following conditions may warrant this procedure:
The procedure for CPT® Code 49460 involves several critical steps to ensure the effective removal of obstructive material from the feeding tube. The following procedural steps are performed:
After the completion of the procedure, the patient may be monitored for any immediate complications or adverse effects. It is essential to ensure that the feeding tube is functioning correctly and that the patient can resume normal feeding without obstruction. Follow-up care may include instructions for the patient or caregiver on how to maintain the tube and recognize signs of potential future obstructions. Additionally, any necessary documentation, including the written report and imaging results, should be filed appropriately for medical records and billing purposes.
| Short Descr | FIX G/COLON TUBE W/DEVICE | Medium Descr | OBSTRUCTIVE MATERIAL REMOVAL FROM GI TUBE | Long Descr | Mechanical removal of obstructive material from gastrostomy, duodenostomy, jejunostomy, gastro-jejunostomy, or cecostomy (or other colonic) tube, any method, under fluoroscopic guidance including contrast injection(s), if performed, image documentation and report | 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) | 0 - 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 | ASC Payment Indicator | Non office-based surgical procedure added in CY 2008 or later; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight. | 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 |
| 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). | 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. | 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.) | 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 | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | Q6 | Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | X4 | Episodic/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians who provide focused care on particular types of treatment limited to a defined period and circumstance; the patient has a problem, acute or chronic, that will be treated with surgery, radiation, or some other type of generally time-limited intervention; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the orthopedic surgeon performing a knee replacement and seeing the patient through the postoperative period | X5 | Diagnostic services requested by another clinician: for reporting services by a clinician who furnishes care to the patient only as requested by another clinician or subsequent and related services requested by another clinician; this modifier is reported for patient relationships that may not be adequately captured by the above alternative categories; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the radiologist's interpretation of an imaging study requested by another clinician | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service |
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| 2008-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 2008. |
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