Summary & Overview
CPT 45379: Colonoscopic Removal of Foreign Body
CPT code 45379 designates colonoscopic removal of foreign bodies from the colon and rectum using a colonoscope. This procedure is clinically important for relieving obstruction, preventing tissue injury, and avoiding surgical intervention when swallowed or inserted objects are present in the lower gastrointestinal tract. Nationally, timely endoscopic removal reduces complications and resource utilization associated with retained foreign objects.
Key payers addressed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical indications and settings for the service, a summary of common modifiers that may apply, and guidance on how payers typically categorize the procedure for coverage and billing. The publication also outlines benchmarking considerations and policy contexts that influence payment and site-of-service decisions at a national level.
The report presents concise benchmarks and coding context for clinicians, billing professionals, and policy stakeholders to understand how CPT code 45379 is used operationally and administratively. Data not available in the input will be noted where relevant.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 45379 describes an endoscopic procedure in which a provider examines the colon and rectum using a colonoscope inserted through the rectum to identify and remove foreign bodies that may damage or obstruct the colon. The procedure involves visualization of the large intestine with a tubular instrument equipped with a light source and camera to locate, grasp, and extract swallowed or inserted objects.
-
Service type: Endoscopic foreign body removal from colon/rectum
-
Typical site of service: Endoscopy suite, hospital outpatient department, or operating room depending on clinical complexity and patient status
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 7-year-old child presents to the emergency department after ingesting a small toy part several hours earlier. The patient has intermittent abdominal pain, refusal to eat, and radiographs suggesting a radiopaque foreign body in the colon near the sigmoid region. The gastroenterology team is consulted. After history, focused exam, and informed consent, the patient is taken to the endoscopy suite. Under monitored anesthesia care or general anesthesia, the provider performs a colonoscopy using a colonoscope inserted through the rectum to localize and visualize the foreign body. Using endoscopic retrieval devices (e.g., forceps, retrieval net), the provider grasps and removes the object, inspects the mucosa for injury or perforation, documents findings, and monitors the patient in recovery. The procedure includes bowel preparation as appropriate for pediatric patients, anesthesia documentation, and post-procedure instructions. Typical documentation elements include indication, informed consent, anesthesia type, procedure performed (45379), instruments used, description of the foreign body, retrieval technique, findings, specimens if any, complications, and disposition.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
52 | Reduced services | Use when a colonoscopic foreign body removal is partially reduced in scope or time compared with full procedure due to limited visualization or patient intolerance. |