04L60ZZ
Occlusion Colic Artery, Right to No Qualifier with No Device, Open Approach
Procedural Specifications
| Clinical Axis | Detail Definition |
|---|---|
| Section | 0 Medical and Surgical |
| Body System | 4 Lower Arteries |
| Operation | L Occlusion |
| Body Part | 6 Colic Artery, Right |
| Approach | 0 Open |
| Device | Z No Device |
| Qualifier | Z No Qualifier |
Operation Definition
Completely closing an orifice or the lumen of a tubular body part
Procedure Overview
Occlusion procedures on the lower arteries deliberately seal off a vessel's opening or lumen so blood can no longer pass through it. This is done using techniques like embolization coils, particles, or glue delivered through a catheter, or by surgically tying off the artery, and it serves purposes ranging from stopping dangerous bleeding to cutting blood supply to a tumor or an abnormal vascular connection. Unlike most procedures aimed at restoring flow, this family intentionally blocks it.
Common reasons for occlusion include controlling a bleeding vessel after trauma or during surgery, shrinking uterine fibroids by blocking their blood supply, treating an aneurysm by closing off the feeding artery, or managing internal bleeding from the gastrointestinal or pelvic arteries. The approach can be catheter-based and minimally invasive or performed as part of an open surgical procedure.
Anatomy & Axis Detail
Colic Artery, Right
The right colic artery, typically a branch of the superior mesenteric artery, supplies the ascending colon, and occlusion of this specific vessel is most often performed intentionally during right hemicolectomy or similar oncologic resection to devascularize the bowel segment being removed, rather than as a primary treatment for a vascular disease of the artery itself. Its origin and course show more anatomic variability than some other mesenteric branches, occasionally arising as a common trunk with the ileocolic or middle colic artery, which surgeons account for during dissection. Because the ascending colon has collateral supply through the marginal artery of Drummond, occlusion of the right colic branch alone is generally well tolerated by the remaining bowel when the rest of the mesenteric arcade is intact.
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 clear language that the artery was closed off entirely - terms like embolization, coiling, ligation, or clipping - and confirm from the note that the intent and result was complete closure rather than partial narrowing. The specific artery occluded needs to match the correct body part value, which for pelvic and reproductive procedures like uterine fibroid embolization can involve multiple small branches. A frequent mistake is confusing partial narrowing intended to reduce but not eliminate flow with true occlusion, or missing that embolization material used therapeutically differs from diagnostic catheter placement, which would not be separately coded.