Health data standards and systems

I recently coded bilateral inguinal repair (recurrent) with adhesions. The adhesions are included in the diagnosis code as Obstruction K40.01 Bilateral inguinal hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, recurrent.

However I am unsure if the procedure code for repair of hernia with obstruction 30615-00 [997] Repair of incarcerated, obstructed or strangulated hernia includes the adhesiolysis. Can you please advise if procedure code 30615-00 [997] includes adhesiolysis?

VICC advises that because there is no includes note for adhesiolysis at Block [997], adhesiolysis is not included in procedure code 30615-00 [997]. Therefore a code for the adhesiolysis can be added, if performed.

Note that the presence of adhesions does not equate to obstruction; assignment of K40.01 Bilateral inguinal hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, recurrent must be supported by documentation of obstruction.