0DSM0ZZ
Reposition Descending Colon to No Qualifier with No Device, Open Approach
Procedural Specifications
| Clinical Axis | Detail Definition |
|---|---|
| Section | 0 Medical and Surgical |
| Body System | D Gastrointestinal System |
| Operation | S Reposition |
| Body Part | M Descending Colon |
| Approach | 0 Open |
| Device | Z No Device |
| Qualifier | Z No Qualifier |
Operation Definition
Moving to its normal location, or other suitable location, all or a portion of a body part
Procedure Overview
Reposition procedures move a gastrointestinal structure to its normal anatomic location, or to another location that allows it to function properly, without cutting away or replacing any tissue. The classic example is surgical correction of malrotation in infants, where the small and large intestines are rearranged into a more typical configuration, but the category also covers reduction of a volvulus, correction of intestinal intussusception when done surgically rather than by enema, and repositioning a prolapsed rectum back into normal alignment.
These procedures address structures that are anatomically present and viable but sitting in the wrong place, whether from a congenital anomaly, a twist that developed over time, or a mechanical shift such as organ prolapse. Because the tissue itself is not removed or substituted, the surgery is fundamentally about untwisting, realigning, or fixing the organ in a corrected position, sometimes with sutures anchoring it there.
Anatomy & Axis Detail
Descending Colon
Repositioning the descending colon involves correcting malposition of this normally fixed, retroperitoneal segment extending from the splenic flexure to the sigmoid, most often when volvulus, redundancy, or a mesenteric hernia has allowed it to twist or migrate from the left paracolic gutter. The surgeon reduces the abnormal position while safeguarding the left colic and sigmoid branches of the inferior mesenteric artery that supply this segment along its mesenteric border, then typically re-fixes the bowel to the posterior peritoneum to restore its normal retroperitoneal course. Because the descending colon lies adjacent to the left kidney and spleen, displacement here can produce flank or left-sided abdominal symptoms that resolve once normal position and fixation are restored, distinguishing this procedure from resection of diseased tissue.
Approach: Open
Open approach means the surgeon cuts through skin, mucous membrane, or other tissue layers to physically expose the target site to view before performing the procedure. It gives direct visualization and hands-on access, distinguishing it from Percutaneous approaches where instruments pass through a small puncture without exposing the site. Open is typical for procedures needing wide access, such as most laparotomies.
Coding & Documentation
Assigning this code requires documentation that the organ was moved to a new or corrected position, distinct from documentation describing repair of a tear or removal of tissue. Operative notes for volvulus reduction or rectal prolapse correction should describe the maneuver used to untwist or realign the bowel and any fixation performed to hold it in place. A recurring coding error is applying Reposition when the procedure actually removed a segment of nonviable bowel after derotation, which instead requires Resection to be coded for that portion. Coders should also watch for cases where repositioning is performed alongside repair of an associated defect, both of which may need to be captured separately.