Mastering Medical Procedures

Root Operations

• Resection involves cutting out a body part without replacement.
• The primary objective of Detachment is to separate a body part from another body part.
• Obliteration is a term used to describe the procedure of making a body part unusable or non-functional without physically removing it.

Removal of Body Parts

• Resection involves completely removing a body part or any anatomical subdivision specified in the ICD-10-PCS table.
• Drainage involves taking or releasing fluids and/or gases from a body part.

Cutting and Releasing

• Incision involves cutting into a body part without draining fluids/gases to separate/transect a body part.
• Release involves freeing a body part from an abnormal anatomic connection.

Reconstruction and Manipulation

• Reattachment involves putting back in/on all/a portion of a separated body part to its normal/suitable location.
• Replacement involves putting in a device that takes the place of a body part.

Procedure Defaults and Qualifiers

• Z is the character value used as the default qualifier for procedures that do not require one.
• The purpose of a Qualifier is to further define the procedure.

Procedures on Skin and Mucous Membrane

• Alteration involves modifying the natural anatomic structure of a body part without affecting its function.
• Insertion involves making a new structure without replacing a body part.

Fusion and Occlusion

• Fusion involves joining parts of a joint to immobilize it.
• Occlusion is assigned when the objective is to completely close off a tubular body part or orifice.

Dilation, Restriction, and Stenting

• Dilation is assigned when the objective is to widen or enlarge the diameter of a tubular body part or orifice.
• If a device is placed to maintain the new diameter, it is considered part of the procedure.
• Restriction is assigned when the objective is to narrow the diameter of a tubular body part or orifice.
• Stenting involves placing a device to maintain the new diameter.