02890ZZ
Division Chordae Tendineae to No Qualifier with No Device, Open Approach
Procedural Specifications
| Clinical Axis | Detail Definition |
|---|---|
| Section | 0 Medical and Surgical |
| Body System | 2 Heart and Great Vessels |
| Operation | 8 Division |
| Body Part | 9 Chordae Tendineae |
| Approach | 0 Open |
| Device | Z No Device |
| Qualifier | Z No Qualifier |
Operation 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
Procedure Overview
Division procedures cut into a structure of the heart or great vessels to separate or transect it, without draining any fluid or gas in the process. The goal is to physically divide a body part into two segments, such as severing an abnormal muscle band, a septal structure, or a connecting vessel that should not remain intact. Unlike an excision, nothing is removed from the body during a division - the tissue is simply cut through.
This category of procedure is performed to correct anatomic problems where an intact structure is itself the source of trouble, such as an accessory muscle bundle interfering with normal heart function or an abnormal vascular connection that needs to be interrupted. By dividing rather than removing tissue, the surgeon changes the structural relationship between parts without eliminating any of the material involved.
Anatomy & Axis Detail
Chordae Tendineae
The chordae tendineae are the thin, cord-like tendons that anchor the mitral and tricuspid valve leaflets to the papillary muscles, preventing the leaflets from prolapsing into the atrium during ventricular contraction. Division of a chorda is performed deliberately in certain valve repair techniques, such as controlled release of a shortened or fibrotic chord that is distorting leaflet motion and contributing to regurgitation or stenosis. This differs from accidental chordal rupture, which is a pathologic event rather than a procedure. Because chordae are fine, low-profile structures embedded within the operative field of a larger valve repair, the division is typically documented as one component of a broader procedure, and coders should confirm from the operative note that the intent was to cut the chorda itself rather than to detach or reposition it.
Approach: Open
Open approach means the surgeon cuts through skin, mucous membrane, or other tissue layers to physically expose the target site to view before performing the procedure. It gives direct visualization and hands-on access, distinguishing it from Percutaneous approaches where instruments pass through a small puncture without exposing the site. Open is typical for procedures needing wide access, such as most laparotomies.
Coding & Documentation
Coders rely on operative documentation that describes cutting through or severing a structure with no portion of it excised and no fluid or gas released as part of the procedure's purpose, since the presence of drainage would point toward a different root operation. A common assignment mistake is coding Division when the surgeon actually removed a piece of tissue after cutting it free, which should instead be captured as Excision or Resection depending on the extent. Coders should also distinguish a true anatomic division from a diagnostic or therapeutic incision made only to gain access to a deeper structure, which is not separately coded because it is inherent to the surgical approach.