Q&A: Coding for an ileus after abdominal surgery

August 17, 2010

QUESTION: I have a question about how to code an ileus after abdominal surgery. This patient had a sigmoid colectomy. The only mention of an ileus in the documentation is “the patient’s ileus cleared and diet was slowly advanced.” The physician did not perform any additional procedures. Is an ileus an expected outcome of surgery? Should I code the ileus, but not as a postoperative complication?

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