Basics about Root Operation of ICD-10-PCS

Root operations of ICD-10- PCS include total 31 root operations. Each root operation is aunique by its definition. ICD-10-PCS will be used in place of Volume 3 codes of ICD 9, so it is very essential to get familiar with root operation of ICD -10-PCS. We know there is a lot of difference between ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes, same goes with ICD-10 Procedure coding system (PCS). These root operation are very well-defined and used for each procedure. However, they can be quite confusing while using them in future. Therefore, we are going to just go through the character and definition about the 31 root operations of ICD -10-PCS. ICD-10-PCS has seven character code and root operations are placed in the third Character.

Definition of Root Operation of ICD-10-PCS

Third Character in ICD-10-PCS code defines the objective of the procedure. Procedure like biopsy, extraction, removal etc. will define most of the procedure and the root operation plays an important role in ICD-10-PCS code. If we choose the wrong root operation, the whole purpose or objective of procedure will change which will lead to incorrect ICD-10-PCS code. These 31 root operations are very important from future point of view; we are going to use them frequently in future and hence should be aware of each of these root operations of ICD-10-PCS and how different they are from each other.

List of Root Operation

Alteration (0) – Changing or modifying the structure of body part without affecting the function of body part to improve appearance. Eg: Face lift

Bypass 1 – Altering the route of passage of the contents of a tubular body part. Eg: CABG

Change 2 – Taking out or off a device from a body part and putting back an identical or similar device in or on the same body part without cutting or puncturing the skin or a mucous membrane

Control 3 – Stopping, or attempting to stop,  postprocedural bleeding

Creation 4 – Making a new genital structure that does not take over the function of a body part.

Destruction 5 – Physical eradication of all or a portion of a body part by the direct use of energy, force, or a destructive agent

Detachment 6 –  Cutting off all or a portion of the upper or lower extremities

Dilation 7 –  Expanding an orifice or the lumen of a tubular body part

Division 8- Cutting into a body part, without draining fluids and/or gases from the body part, in order to separate or transect a body part

Drainage  9 – Taking or letting out fluids and/or gases from a body part

Abortion A –  only for Obstetrics

Excision B – Cutting out or off, without replacement, a portion of a body part

Extirpation C – Taking or cutting out solid matter from a body part

Extraction D –  Pulling or stripping out or off all or a portion of a body part by the use of force

Delivery E – only for Obstetrics

Fragmentation F – Breaking solid matter in a body part into pieces

Fusion G –   Joining together portions of an articular body part rendering the articular body part immobile

Insertion H– Putting in a nonbiological appliance that monitors, assists, performs, or prevents a physiological function but does not physically take the place of a body part

Inspection J –  Visually and/or manually exploring a body part

Map K – Locating the route of passage of electrical impulses and/or locating functional areas in a body part

Occlusion L – Completely closing an orifice or the lumen of a tubular body part

Reattachement M – Putting back in or on all or a portion of a separated body part to its normal location or other suitable location

Release N – Freeing a body part from an abnormal physical constraint by cutting or by the use of force

Removal P– Taking out or off a device from a body part

Repair Q– Restoring, to the extent possible, a body part to its normal anatomic structure and function

Replacement R-  Putting in or on biological or synthetic material that physically takes the place and/or function of all or a portion of a body part

Reposition S–  Moving to its normal location, or other suitable location, all or a portion of a body part

Resection T– Cutting out or off, without replacement, all of a body part

Supplement U–  Putting in or on biological or synthetic material that physically reinforces and/or augments the function of a portion of a body part

Restriction V– Partially closing an orifice or the lumen of a tubular body part

Revision W– Correcting, to the extent possible, a portion of a malfunctioning device or the position of a displaced device

Transfer X– Moving, without taking out, all or a portion of a body part to another location to take over the function of all or a portion of a body part

Transplantation Y – Putting in or on all or a portion of a living body part taken from another individual or animal to physically take the place and/or function of all or a portion of a similar body part