Definitions for Character #3 of PCS Codes Medical and Surgical Root Operations

April 12th, 2017 - Chris Woolstenhulme, CPC, CMRS

Categories: Diagnosis Coding

Character #3 of PCS codes Medical and Surgical Root operations definitions

Alteration

Modifying the anatomic structure of a body part without affecting the function of the body part

Bypass

Altering the route of passage of the contents of a tubular body part

Change

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

Stopping, or attempting to stop, post procedural bleeding

Creation

Making a new genital structure that does not take over the function of a body part

Destruction

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

Detachment

Cutting off all or part of the upper or lower extremities

Dilation

Expanding an orifice or the lumen of a tubular body part

Division

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

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

Excision

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

Extirpation

Taking or cutting out solid matter from a body part

Extraction

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

Fragmentation

Breaking solid matter in a body part into pieces

Fusion

Joining together portions of an articular body part rendering the articular body part immobile

Insertion

Putting in a non-biological appliance that monitors, assists, performs, or prevents a physiological function, but does not physically take the place of a body part

Inspection

Visually and/or manually exploring a body part

Map

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

Occlusion

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

Reattachment

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

Release

Freeing a body part from an abnormal physical constraint by cutting or by use of force

Removal

Taking out or off a device from a body part

Repair

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

Replacement

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

Moving all or a portion of a body part to its normal location or other suitable location

Resection

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

Restriction

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

Revision

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

Supplement

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

Transfer

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

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

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