CPT 00790: Anesthesia for Upper Abdominal Intraperitoneal Procedures - OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

CPT 00790: Anesthesia for Upper Abdominal Intraperitoneal Procedures

CPT code 00790 designates anesthesia for intraperitoneal procedures in the upper abdomen, including laparoscopic operations, when no other anesthesia code applies. This code captures anesthesia work accompanying a range of upper abdominal surgeries and is relevant for national billing, coding consistency, and procedure-level analysis because it addresses cases that fall outside more specific anesthesia codes. Key payers included in the review are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, United Healthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical framing of when CPT code 00790 is used, how it maps to typical operative settings, and the common surgical contexts where it applies (for example, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy, colectomy, hernia repair, and adhesiolysis). The publication also summarizes payer coverage considerations, typical sites of service, related surgical procedures, and guidance on clinical context and coding relationships. This overview is intended for clinicians, coding professionals, and health policy analysts seeking a clear national-level description of the code’s clinical scope and billing significance. Data not available in the input is explicitly noted where applicable.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnited HealthcareMedicareCPT 00790anesthesialaparoscopyupper abdominal surgeryintraperitoneal proceduresoperative caresurgical anesthesiacoding

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 00790 describes anesthesia services provided for intraperitoneal procedures in the upper abdomen, including laparoscopy, not otherwise specified by other anesthesia codes. The service type is anesthesia for upper abdominal intraperitoneal surgery (including laparoscopic approaches). The typical site of service is operating room or surgical suite where laparoscopic or open upper abdominal intraperitoneal procedures are performed.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 42-year-old patient presents to the emergency department with acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain, nausea, and low-grade fever. Imaging and clinical exam support a diagnosis of acute appendicitis (K35.80), and the surgical team schedules a laparoscopic appendectomy. The anesthesia provider (anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist) evaluates the patient preoperatively, documents airway assessment, ASA physical status, informed anesthesia plan, and obtains consent. General endotracheal anesthesia is induced in the operating room for an intraperitoneal laparoscopic procedure in the upper abdomen. Intraoperative management includes induction, airway control, maintenance of anesthesia, hemodynamic monitoring, fluid management, and postoperative emergence and handoff to PACU staff. The anesthesia service is reported with 00790 when the intraperitoneal upper abdominal laparoscopy is not otherwise specified by a more specific anesthesia code. Typical perioperative documentation includes start and stop times for anesthesia, modifiers as applicable, and any unusual events (e.g., difficult airway, intraoperative complications).

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when anesthesia involves substantially greater effort, time, or complexity than typical for , with supporting documentation of increased work.

Related Codes

00870

CPT 00870: Anesthesia for Lower Abdomen Procedures, Cystolithotomy

00797

CPT 00797: Anesthesia for Upper Abdominal Intraperitoneal Procedures

cpt-00820-anesthesia-lower-posterior-abdominal-wall-procedures

CPT 00820: Anesthesia for Lower Posterior Abdominal Wall Procedures

cpt-00868-renal-transplant-anesthesia

CPT 00868: Anesthesia for Renal Transplant Surgery

cpt-00864-extraperitoneal-lower-abdomen-anesthesia-total-cystectomy

CPT 00864: Anesthesia for Extraperitoneal Lower Abdominal Procedure, Total Cystectomy

cpt-00842-anesthesia-amniocentesis

CPT 00842: Anesthesia for Amniocentesis

cpt-00792-partial-hepatectomy-liver-hemorrhage-anesthesia

CPT 00792: Anesthesia for Partial Hepatectomy or Liver Hemorrhage

00834

CPT 00834: Anesthesia for Pediatric Lower Abdominal Hernia Repair

00794

CPT 00794: Anesthesia for Partial or Total Pancreatectomy

cpt-00882-anesthesia-major-lower-abdominal-vessels

CPT 00882: Anesthesia for Major Lower Abdominal Vascular Procedures

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00790

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207L00000X`	Anesthesiology	Board-certified anesthesiologists who most commonly report `00790` when appropriate.
`367500000X`	Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist	CRNAs provide and document anesthesia services under institutional and payer rules; may report under supervision or independently per state law.
`207RA0401X`	Anesthesiology Assistant	Anesthesiology assistants participate in delivery of anesthesia under anesthesiologist direction; billing and supervision rules vary by payer.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`K35.80`	Acute appendicitis without perforation or gangrene	Common indication for laparoscopic appendectomy; requires intraperitoneal anesthesia for laparoscopy.
`K40.90`	Unilateral inguinal hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, not specified as recurrent	May be repaired via laparoscopic approach requiring intraperitoneal anesthesia management.
`K56.60`	Unspecified intestinal obstruction	Laparoscopic evaluation or intervention for obstruction may require intraperitoneal anesthesia.
`K57.30`	Diverticulosis of large intestine without perforation or abscess without bleeding	Laparoscopic colon procedures for diverticular disease may use intraperitoneal anesthesia services.
`K63.5`	Polyp of colon	Laparoscopic-assisted colonic procedures for polyps can require anesthesia consistent with `00790`.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`47562`	Laparoscopy, surgical; cholecystectomy	Upper abdominal laparoscopic procedure that may require anesthesia reported with `00790` if no more specific anesthesia code applies.
`44970`	Laparoscopy, surgical, appendectomy	Common intraperitoneal laparoscopic upper abdominal procedure; anesthesia for this procedure corresponds to `00790` when appropriate.
`49650`	Laparoscopy, surgical; repair initial inguinal hernia	Laparoscopic repair involving intraperitoneal access; anesthesia services for laparoscopic hernia repair may be reported with `00790`.
`44180`	Laparoscopy, surgical, enterolysis (freeing of intestinal adhesion)	Intraperitoneal laparoscopic adhesiolysis in upper abdomen; anesthesia billed with `00790` when no more specific code fits.
`44204`	Laparoscopy, surgical; colectomy, partial, with anastomosis	Laparoscopic partial colectomy requiring intraperitoneal anesthesia care; use `00790` if anesthesia coding guidelines direct it.