The 31 Root Operations Flashcards
Alteration
Definition: Modifying the anatomic structure of a body part without affecting the function of the body part
Explanation: Principal purpose is to improve appearance
Examples: Face lift, breast augmentation
Bypass
Definition: Altering the route of passage of the contents of a tubular body part
Explanation: Rerouting contents of a body part to a downstream area of the normal route, to a similar route and body part, or to an abnormal route and dissimilar body part. Includes one or more anastomoses, with or without the use of a device
Examples: Coronary artery bypass, colostomy formation
Change
Definition: 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
Explanation: All Change procedures are coded using the approach External
Examples: Urinary catheter change, gastrostomy tube change
Control
Definition: Stopping, or attempting to stop, postprocedural bleeding
Explanation: The site of the bleeding is coded as an anatomical region and not to a specific body part
Examples: Control of post-prostatectomy hemorrhage, control of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage
Creation
Definition: Making a new genital structure that does not take over the function of a body part
Explanation: Used only for sex change operations
Examples: Creation of vagina in a male, creation of penis in a female
Destruction
Definition: Physical eradication of all or a portion of a body part by the direct use of energy, force or a destructive agent
Explanation: None of the body part is physically taken out
Examples: Fulguration of rectal polyp, cautery of skin lesion
Detachment
Definition: Cutting off all or a portion of the upper or lower extremities
Explanation: The body part value is the site of the detachment, with a qualifier if applicable to further specify the level where the extremity was detached
Examples: Below knee amputation, disarticulation of shoulder
Dilation
Definition: Expanding an orifice or the lumen of a tubular body part
Explanation: The orifice can be a natural orifice or an artificially created orifice. Accomplished by stretching a tubular body part using intraluminal pressure or by cutting part of the orifice or wall of the tubular body part
Examples: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, pyloromyotomy
Division
Definition: Cutting into a body part without draining fluids and/or gases from the body part in order to separate or transect a body part
Explanation: All or a portion of the body part is separated into two or more portions
Examples: Spinal cordotomy, osteotomy
Drainage
Definition: Taking or letting out fluids and/or gases from a body part
Explanation: The qualifier Diagnostic is used to identify drainage procedures that are biopsies
Examples: Thoracentesis, incision and drainage
Excision
Definition: Cutting out or off, without replacement, a portion of a body part
Explanation: The qualifier Diagnostic is used to identify excision procedures that are biopsies
Examples: Partial nephrectomy, liver biopsy
Extirpation
Definition: Taking or cutting out solid matter from a body part
Explanation: The solid matter may be an abnormal byproduct of a biological function or a foreign body; it may be imbedded in a body part or in the lumen of a tubular body part. The solid matter may or may not have been previously broken into pieces
Examples: Thrombectomy, choledocholithotomy
Extraction
Definition: Pulling or stripping out or off all or a portion of a body part by the use of force
Explanation: The qualifier Diagnostic is used to identify extraction procedures that are biopsies
Examples: Dilation and curettage, vein stripping
Fragmentation
Definition: Breaking solid matter in a body part into pieces
Explanation: Physical force (e.g., manual, ultrasonic) applied directly or indirectly is used to break the solid matter into pieces. The solid matter may be an abnormal byproduct of a biological function or a foreign body. The pieces of solid matter are not taken out
Examples: Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, transurethral lithotripsy
Fusion
Definition: Joining together portions of an articular body part rendering the articular body part immobile
Explanation: The body part is joined together by fixation device, bone graft, or other means
Examples: Spinal fusion, ankle arthrodesis
Insertion
Definition: Putting in a nonbiological device that monitors, assists, performs or prevents a physiological function but does not physically take the place of a body part
Explanation: N/A
Examples: Insertion of radioactive implant, insertion of central venous catheter
Inspection
Definition: Visually and/or manually exploring a body part
Explanation: Visual exploration may be performed with or without optical instrumentation. Manual exploration may be performed directly or through intervening body layers
Examples: Diagnostic arthroscopy, exploratory laparotomy
Map
Definition: Locating the route of passage of electrical impulses and/or locating functional areas in a body part
Explanation: Applicable only to the cardiac conduction mechanism and the central nervous system
Examples: Cardiac mapping, cortical mapping
Occlusion
Definition: Completely closing an orifice or the lumen of a tubular body part
Explanation: The orifice can be a natural orifice or an artificially created orifice
Examples: Fallopian tube ligation, ligation of inferior vena cava
Reattachment
Definition: Putting back in or on all or a portion of a separated body part to its normal location or other suitable location
Explanation: Vascular circulation and nervous pathways may or may not be reestablished
Examples: Reattachment of hand, reattachment of avulsed kidney
Release
Definition: Freeing a body part from an abnormal physical constraint by cutting or by use of force
Explanation: Some of the restraining tissue may be taken out but none of the body part is taken out
Examples: Adhesiolysis, carpal tunnel release
Removal
Definition: Taking out or off a device from a body part
Explanation: If a device is taken out and a similar device put in without cutting or puncturing the skin or mucous membrane, the procedure is coded to the root operation Change. Otherwise, the procedure for taking out a device is coded to the root operation Removal
Examples: Drainage tube removal, cardiac pacemaker removal
Repair
Definition: Restoring, to the extent possible, a body part to its normal anatomic structure and function
Explanation: Used only when the method to accomplish the repair is not one of the other root operations
Examples: Colostomy takedown, suture of laceration
Replacement
Definition: 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
Explanation: The body part may have been taken out or replaced, or may be taken out, physically eradicated, or rendered nonfunctional during the Replacement procedure. A Removal procedure is coded for taking out the device used in a previous replacement procedure
Examples: Total hip replacement, bone graft, free skin graft
Reposition
Definition: Moving to its normal location, or other suitable location, all or a portion of a body part
Explanation: The body part is moved to a new location from an abnormal location, or from a normal location where it is not functioning correctly. The body part may or may not be cut out or off to be moved to the new location
Examples: Reposition of undescended testicle, fracture reduction
Resection
Definition: Partially closing an orifice or the lumen of a tubular body part
Explanation: The orifice can be a natural orifice or an artificially created orifice
Examples: Esophagogastric fundoplication, cervical cerclage
Revision
Definition: Correcting, to the extent possible, a portion of a malfunctioning device or the position of a displaced device
Explanation: Revision can include correcting a malfunctioning or displaced device by taking out or putting in components of the device such as a screw or pin
Examples: Adjustment of position of pacemaker lead, recementing of hip prosthesis
Supplement
Definition: Putting in or on biological or synthetic material that physically reinforces and/or augments the function of a portion of a body part
Explanation: The biological material is non-living, or is living and from the same individual. The body part may have been previously replaced, and the Supplement procedure is performed to physically reinforce and/or augment the function of the replaced body part
Examples: Herniorrhaphy using mesh, free nerve graft, mitral valve ring annuloplasty, put a new acetabular liner in a previous hip replacement
Transfer
Definition: 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
Explanation: The body part transferred remains connected to its vascular and nervous supply
Examples: Tendon transfer, skin pedicle flap transfer
Transplantation
Definition: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
Explanation:The native body part may or may not be taken out, and the transplanted body part may take over all or a portion of its function
Examples: Kidney transplant, heart transplant
Restriction
Definition: Partially closing an orifice or the lumen of a tubular body part
Explanation: The orifice can be a natural orifice or an artificially created orifice
Examples: Esophagogastric fundoplication, cervical cerclage
