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Official Description

Removal of peritoneal foreign body from peritoneal cavity

© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

The procedure described by CPT® Code 49402 involves the surgical removal of a foreign body that has been located within the peritoneal cavity. The peritoneal cavity is the space within the abdomen that houses various organs, and the presence of a foreign body can lead to complications such as infection, inflammation, or obstruction. During this procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the abdominal wall to gain access to the peritoneum, which is the membrane lining the abdominal cavity. Once the peritoneum is entered, the surgeon explores the cavity to locate the foreign object. After successfully identifying and removing the foreign body, the surgeon closes the incision using sutures to ensure proper healing. This procedure is critical for addressing potential health risks associated with retained foreign materials in the abdominal cavity.

© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The procedure is indicated for the removal of foreign bodies that have entered the peritoneal cavity, which may occur due to various reasons such as trauma, surgical complications, or accidental ingestion. The presence of a foreign body can lead to significant health issues, including infection, peritonitis, or intestinal obstruction, necessitating surgical intervention to prevent further complications.

  • Trauma Foreign bodies may enter the peritoneal cavity as a result of penetrating injuries or accidents.
  • Surgical Complications Retained surgical instruments or materials from previous surgeries can necessitate removal.
  • Accidental Ingestion Objects that are ingested and subsequently migrate into the peritoneal cavity may require surgical extraction.

2. Procedure

The procedure for the removal of a peritoneal foreign body involves several critical steps to ensure successful extraction and patient safety.

  • Step 1: Anesthesia Administration Prior to the procedure, the patient is administered appropriate anesthesia to ensure comfort and pain management during the surgery.
  • Step 2: Incision of the Abdominal Wall The surgeon makes a careful incision in the abdominal wall, which allows access to the peritoneal cavity. The location and size of the incision may vary based on the specific circumstances and the surgeon's preference.
  • Step 3: Entry into the Peritoneum After the abdominal wall is incised, the surgeon enters the peritoneum, taking care to minimize trauma to surrounding tissues. This step is crucial for accessing the cavity where the foreign body is located.
  • Step 4: Exploration of the Peritoneal Cavity The surgeon explores the peritoneal cavity to locate the foreign body. This may involve careful manipulation of the surrounding organs and tissues to identify the object.
  • Step 5: Removal of the Foreign Body Once the foreign body is located, the surgeon carefully removes it from the peritoneal cavity. This step is performed with precision to avoid damaging any surrounding structures.
  • Step 6: Closure of the Incision After the foreign body has been successfully removed, the surgeon closes the incision in the abdominal wall using sutures. Proper closure is essential for promoting healing and preventing complications such as infection.

3. Post-Procedure

Post-procedure care involves monitoring the patient for any signs of complications, such as infection or bleeding. Patients may be advised to follow specific instructions regarding activity levels, wound care, and dietary restrictions during the recovery period. Follow-up appointments may be scheduled to assess healing and ensure that no further issues arise following the removal of the foreign body.

Short Descr REMOVE FOREIGN BODY ADBOMEN
Medium Descr REMOVAL PERITONEAL FOREIGN BODY FROM CAVITY
Long Descr Removal of peritoneal foreign body from peritoneal cavity
Status Code Active Code
Global Days 090 - Major Surgery
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 0 - Physician Service Code
Multiple Procedures (51) 2 - Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply.
Bilateral Surgery (50) 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply.
Physician Supervisions 09 - Concept does not apply.
Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) 1 - Statutory payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure...
Co-Surgeons (62) 1 - Co-surgeons could be paid, though supporting documentation is required...
Team Surgery (66) 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Diagnostic Imaging Family 99 - Concept Does Not Apply
APC Status Indicator Hospital Part B services paid through a comprehensive APC
ASC Payment Indicator Surgical procedure on ASC list in CY 2007; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight.
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P1G - Major procedure - Other
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 99 - Other OR gastrointestinal therapeutic procedures
22 Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
51 Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d).
52 Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use).
58 Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78.
59 Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25.
62 Two surgeons: when 2 surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct part(s) of a procedure, each surgeon should report his/her distinct operative work by adding modifier 62 to the procedure code and any associated add-on code(s) for that procedure as long as both surgeons continue to work together as primary surgeons. each surgeon should report the co-surgery once using the same procedure code. if additional procedure(s) (including add-on procedure(s) are performed during the same surgical session, separate code(s) may also be reported with modifier 62 added. note: if a co-surgeon acts as an assistant in the performance of additional procedure(s), other than those reported with the modifier 62, during the same surgical session, those services may be reported using separate procedure code(s) with modifier 80 or modifier 82 added, as appropriate.
78 Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, see modifier 76.)
79 Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.)
80 Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s).
82 Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon not available): the unavailability of a qualified resident surgeon is a prerequisite for use of modifier 82 appended to the usual procedure code number(s).
AS Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery
CC Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed)
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
Q6 Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
Date
Action
Notes
2011-01-01 Changed Short description changed.
2007-01-01 Added First appearance in code book in 2007.
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