S175 – Intestinal obstruction (mechanical) - without resection
OHIP Urology Code — DIGESTIVE SYSTEM SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
Surgical management for a patient with a mechanical intestinal obstruction, performed without resection of the bowel. This procedure is listed under the Digestive System Surgical Procedures section of the Schedule of Benefits. The fee for this service covers the surgeon's work (suffix A). Assistant (suffix B) and Anaesthesia (suffix C) services are also compensable and are calculated based on a combination of base units and time units as specified in the Schedule. Note: If this is part of a staged procedure, refer to Surgical Preamble for specific billing guidelines.
When to Use
- Use S175 for surgical management of mechanical intestinal obstruction (e.g., adhesiolysis) where the bowel remains viable and no resection is required.
- Use this code when the primary surgical intent is the release of obstruction without the removal of any intestinal segment.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing S175 when a bowel resection is actually performed; this requires a different code (e.g., S176 or S177) and will lead to audit recovery.
- Attempting to bill a second surgical assistant without prior authorization from a medical consultant, as S175 is not on the pre-approved list for multiple assistants.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the operative report clearly documents the absence of bowel resection to justify the use of S175 over resection-based codes.
- If the procedure is non-elective and performed after hours, apply the appropriate E409 or E410 premium to the procedural fee to maximize reimbursement.
Effective: April 1, 2026
S. Digestive System Surgical Procedures
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Surgical
Digestive System Surgical Procedures
If staged procedure, refer to Surgical Preamble .
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