epiploic appendagitis code
Does anyone know what the ICD 9 code for epiploic appendagitis would be? From my research I can only come up with 569.89 but our coders are not sure if this is correct.
Thanks.
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Epiploic appendagitis is also known as epiploitis. Epiploitis is indexed to peritonitis in the ICD-9-CM Alphabetic Index. The Nosology opinion is to code 567.89 since the condition is specified as epiploic.
Epiploic appendages are pedunculated structures of peritoneal fat and small vessels found along the antimesenteric border of the colon. Although this condition is classified as a congenital anomaly in ICD-9-CM according to the Index entry for Appendage, intestine (epiploic), code 751.5 simply describes the appendages and does not capture the inflammatory process. Although classified as a congenital anomaly, the appendages are actually quite common: the average person has between 50-100 of them.
If an appendage becomes unusually long or large, it may become torsed at the point of attachment to the serosa of the colon. This torsion, as well as thrombosis of its vascular structure, may lead to inflammation or epiploic appendagitis. Since the appendages are peritoneal structures, ICD-9-CM category 567 is appropriate. If the torsion is severe, it can lead to necrosis or infarction of the appendage. The infracted tissue causes the most acutely symptomatic form of inflammation in the appendage. There is a separate code for infracted appendage: 557.0 according to the Alphabetic Index entry for Infarction, appendices epiploicae .
Sharon Salinas