2025 CPT code 45379
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Digestive System Feed
Colonoscopy, flexible; with removal of foreign body(s).
Modifiers may be applicable. Modifier 52 (Reduced services) would be used if the procedure was partially completed, and modifier 53 (Discontinued procedure) if the procedure was terminated due to circumstances beyond the physician's control.
Medical necessity is established by the presence of a foreign body in the colon causing symptoms, obstructing the bowel, or posing a risk of perforation or other complications.
The physician is responsible for preparing the patient, administering anesthesia, inserting and maneuvering the colonoscope, identifying and removing the foreign body, and ensuring safe withdrawal of the instrument.
In simple words: The doctor uses a long, flexible tube with a camera and light (a colonoscope) to examine your large intestine (colon) and remove anything that shouldn't be there, like a swallowed object.
This code describes a procedure where a flexible colonoscope is used to examine the colon and remove any foreign objects present. This includes the entire procedure, from insertion of the scope to its withdrawal, along with the identification and extraction of foreign bodies.
Example 1: A child swallows a small toy and it becomes lodged in their colon. A colonoscopy with foreign body removal (45379) is performed to retrieve the toy., An adult patient has a piece of undigested food stuck in their colon, causing discomfort. A colonoscopy with foreign body removal (45379) is performed to dislodge and remove the food particle., A patient with a history of swallowing foreign objects presents with abdominal pain. A colonoscopy with foreign body removal (45379) is performed, revealing and removing a small metal object.
Documentation should include details of the foreign body (size, type, location), the method of removal, any complications encountered, and the overall condition of the colon.
- Specialties:Gastroenterology, General Surgery
- Place of Service:Ambulatory Surgical Center, Hospital Inpatient, Hospital Outpatient