0BC60ZZ
Extirpation Lower Lobe Bronchus, Right to No Qualifier with No Device, Open Approach
Procedural Specifications
| Clinical Axis | Detail Definition |
|---|---|
| Section | 0 Medical and Surgical |
| Body System | B Respiratory System |
| Operation | C Extirpation |
| Body Part | 6 Lower Lobe Bronchus, Right |
| Approach | 0 Open |
| Device | Z No Device |
| Qualifier | Z No Qualifier |
Operation Definition
Taking or cutting out solid matter from a body part
Procedure Overview
Extirpation removes solid material that doesn't belong in the respiratory tract - a foreign object a child inhaled, an inspissated mucus plug obstructing a bronchus, a blood clot, or a broncholith (a piece of calcified material eroding into an airway). The goal isn't to take a tissue sample or treat disease directly, but simply to physically take out an abnormal solid substance that is causing obstruction or infection risk.
Anatomy & Axis Detail
Lower Lobe Bronchus, Right
The right lower lobe bronchus is a wider, more vertically oriented airway that branches into the superior and basal segmental bronchi supplying the lower lobe, and its dependent position makes it a common site for gravitationally pooled secretions, aspirated contents, or blood clots following hemoptysis. Extirpation addresses these obstructing materials, restoring airflow and ventilation to the lower lobe and reducing the risk of postobstructive pneumonia or lobar collapse. Because the airway is relatively large in caliber compared to upper lobe bronchi, larger foreign bodies or thick mucus plugs can lodge here, and retrieval may involve suction, forceps, or basket extraction during bronchoscopy. Coders should confirm that the intervention was limited to removal of loose or accumulated material rather than resection of bronchial tissue.
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 should look for language describing removal of a foreign body, thrombus, or debris rather than removal of native tissue for diagnostic or therapeutic sampling. The route matters for code assignment - most respiratory extirpations are done via flexible or rigid bronchoscopy, so the approach value typically reflects a natural or percutaneous endoscopic route. A common error is coding removal of a mucus plug as Drainage because it involves clearing an airway, when the material removed was solid rather than liquid, which makes Extirpation the accurate choice. Another is missing that a foreign body first broken up and then removed should be coded to both Fragmentation and Extirpation when pieces are individually taken out.