0UL70DZ
Occlusion Fallopian Tubes, Bilateral to No Qualifier with Intraluminal Device, Open Approach
Procedural Specifications
| Clinical Axis | Detail Definition |
|---|---|
| Section | 0 Medical and Surgical |
| Body System | U Female Reproductive System |
| Operation | L Occlusion |
| Body Part | 7 Fallopian Tubes, Bilateral |
| Approach | 0 Open |
| Device | D Intraluminal Device |
| Qualifier | Z No Qualifier |
Operation Definition
Completely closing an orifice or the lumen of a tubular body part
Procedure Overview
Occlusion procedures close off a female reproductive structure completely, most often the fallopian tubes for permanent sterilization. A surgeon may apply clips or rings, place a band, tie and cut the tube, or use energy to seal it shut, all with the goal of preventing an egg and sperm from meeting. The same root operation also covers occluding other structures, such as blocking abnormal blood vessels feeding fibroids or sealing off a vaginal segment for specific reconstructive reasons.
Most people encounter this family of procedures as tubal ligation, a decision usually made after childbearing is complete or when pregnancy would pose a health risk. It can be performed on its own through small laparoscopic incisions, immediately after a vaginal delivery, or alongside a cesarean section while the abdomen is already open. Because the tubes are fully closed rather than partially altered, the procedure is intended to be permanent, though reversal is sometimes attempted later with variable success.
Anatomy & Axis Detail
Fallopian Tubes, Bilateral
Bilateral occlusion of the fallopian tubes describes the standard tubal ligation procedure performed on both sides during a single operative session, most commonly for permanent contraception or occasionally as an adjunct measure to reduce ovarian cancer risk in higher-risk patients. Surgeons address each tube in turn, applying clips, rings, bands, or coagulation to the same anatomic segment on both the right and left, and the bilateral designation reflects that the entire reproductive axis is interrupted rather than just one side. This is the most frequently performed occlusion procedure in this body system, often done laparoscopically in an outpatient setting, and it is distinguished from unilateral occlusion codes by the deliberate, simultaneous treatment of both tubes.
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.
Device: Intraluminal Device
Intraluminal Device denotes a single device, such as a stent or occlusion device, positioned within the lumen of a tubular body part like a vessel, duct, or airway to maintain patency or occlude flow. It carries no drug coating or radioactivity, distinguishing it from the drug-eluting, radioactive, and bioactive intraluminal device values, and from Extraluminal Device, which sits outside rather than inside the lumen.
Coding & Documentation
Coders assign an Occlusion code when documentation confirms the target lumen or orifice was closed in its entirety, not merely narrowed or reduced. The operative report should name the device used - clips, rings, bands, or ligature - and the specific tube or vessel addressed, since this drives both the approach and device value in the code. A frequent mix-up is choosing Occlusion when the physician actually removed a segment of tube along with tying off the ends; if a portion of the structure is taken out, Excision or Resection better reflects the work performed, and the coder should look for wording like "segment removed" versus "tube ligated and left in place." Bilateral procedures also require attention, since both tubes typically need to be reflected in the code selection.
Commonly Confused With
This family is easily confused with Excision when a tubal segment is cut out as part of the sterilization technique, and with Restriction, which narrows rather than fully closes a lumen. Occlusion for sterilization can also be confused with Occlusion of a fibroid's blood supply during uterine artery embolization; the body part value distinguishes a reproductive tube from a vessel, so the coder must confirm exactly what structure was closed. Reviewing whether the procedure was meant to be permanent and complete, versus partial or temporary, helps separate Occlusion from these neighboring root operations.