Abdomen, Peritoneum, and Omentum

In the abdomen, peritoneum, and omentum ub ection, the exploratory laparotomy (code

49000) is a separate procedure and should not be reported when it is part of a

larger procedure.
This code often is u ed incorrectly because laparotomy i the approach to many
abdominal
surgerie . A laparotomy involves open surgery, whereas a laparoscopy involves only
local inci
sions to introduce the laparoscope.