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A therapeutic enema utilizing either air or contrast material is a medical procedure aimed at addressing specific gastrointestinal conditions, particularly intussusception and intraluminal obstructions such as meconium ileus. Intussusception occurs when a segment of the intestine invaginates or telescopes into an adjacent segment, leading to potential inflammation, swelling, and obstruction of the bowel. This condition can result in severe abdominal pain, distension, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Meconium ileus, on the other hand, is a condition primarily seen in newborns, characterized by the failure to pass meconium, the first stool, which can lead to intestinal blockage. The therapeutic enema serves both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, as it involves a radiologic examination of the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including the rectum, colon, and potentially the appendix and distal small intestine. The procedure is typically performed in emergency settings, where patients present with symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, or abnormal bowel movements. The process begins with imaging the abdomen to assess the condition, followed by the insertion of a small tube into the rectum through which barium contrast or air is introduced under pressure. This method not only aids in visualizing the lower GI tract through fluoroscopy but also has the potential to resolve the obstruction by applying pressure to the affected area, thereby restoring normal intestinal function.
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The therapeutic enema using contrast or air is indicated for the following conditions:
The procedure for performing a therapeutic enema involves several key steps that ensure both effective treatment and accurate imaging of the lower gastrointestinal tract:
After the therapeutic enema procedure, patients may be monitored for any immediate complications or adverse reactions. It is important to assess the effectiveness of the procedure, particularly in terms of symptom relief and the resolution of the obstruction. Patients may experience some discomfort or cramping following the procedure, which is typically transient. Additional follow-up care may be necessary to ensure that the obstruction has been fully resolved and to monitor for any recurrence of symptoms. Documentation of the procedure and its outcomes is essential for ongoing patient management and for billing purposes.
| Short Descr | THER NMA RDCTJ INTUS/OBSTRCJ | Medium Descr | THERAPEUTIC ENEMA RDCTJ INTUSSUSCEPTION/OBSTRCJ | Long Descr | Therapeutic enema, contrast or air, for reduction of intussusception or other intraluminal obstruction (eg, meconium ileus) | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 1 - Diagnostic Tests for Radiology Services | Multiple Procedures (51) | 0 - No 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, Not Discounted when Multiple | ASC Payment Indicator | Radiology service paid separately when provided integral to a surgical procedure on ASC list; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight. | Type of Service (TOS) | 4 - Diagnostic Radiology | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | I4B - Imaging/procedure - other | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 186 - Lower gastrointestinal X-ray |
| 26 | Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number. | 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). | 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.) | 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 | 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 |
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| 2018-01-01 | Changed | Short description revised |
| 1990-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 1990. |
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