Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Practice Test

What is the procedure code for the excision of a ruptured appendix with generalized peritonitis?

1. 44960, 540.0

2. 47562

3. 40700, 749.12

4. 59515

The correct answer is: 44960, 540.0

The procedure code for the excision of a ruptured appendix with generalized peritonitis is indeed 44960. This code represents an appendectomy performed due to a ruptured appendix, which is a surgical procedure to remove the appendix, often necessitated by the presence of complications such as generalized peritonitis. In this context, the presence of generalized peritonitis indicates that the infection has spread within the abdominal cavity, which complicates the surgical procedure and requires specific coding to accurately reflect the complexity and urgency of the medical intervention. The addition of the diagnosis code 540.0 corresponds to acute appendicitis with peritonitis, capturing the clinical scenario's specifics and intricacies. Other codes listed in the options do not pertain to the situation described. They may refer to unrelated surgical procedures or conditions that would not accurately convey the context of a ruptured appendix being treated with an appendectomy. This reinforces why 44960 is the correct choice for this specific medical scenario, ensuring that both the procedure and the underlying condition are adequately represented.