ICD-10-PCS Billable Code

0BL57DZ

Occlusion Middle Lobe Bronchus, Right to No Qualifier with Intraluminal Device, Via Natural or Artificial Opening Approach

Procedural Specifications

Clinical Axis Detail Definition
Section0 Medical and Surgical
Body SystemB Respiratory System
OperationL Occlusion
Body Part5 Middle Lobe Bronchus, Right
Approach7 Via Natural or Artificial Opening
DeviceD Intraluminal Device
QualifierZ No Qualifier

Operation Definition

Completely closing an orifice or the lumen of a tubular body part

Procedure Overview

This family describes procedures that completely close off part of the airway, most often to stop air or secretions from passing through a specific bronchus or to control a leak. A common application is placing an endobronchial valve to block airflow into a diseased or overinflated portion of the lung, a technique used in lung volume reduction for severe emphysema or to seal a persistent air leak after surgery or trauma. Occlusion may also be used to manage a bronchopleural fistula by blocking the affected airway segment, giving the surrounding lung tissue a chance to heal.

Anatomy & Axis Detail

Middle Lobe Bronchus, Right

The middle lobe bronchus supplies the smallest lobe of the right lung and is occluded far less frequently than other bronchial segments, generally to control an air leak, fistula, or localized bleeding confined to the right middle lobe when preserving the rest of the lung is desired. Its short length and origin close to both the upper and lower lobe bronchi make selective occlusion technically challenging, since a device positioned too proximally or distally risks affecting adjacent lobes. Bronchoscopic placement of an endobronchial valve or blocker is typically guided by direct visualization and fluoroscopy to confirm the device sits precisely within the middle lobe bronchus before airflow to that lobe is fully blocked.

Approach: Via Natural or Artificial Opening

Via Natural or Artificial Opening means the instrument reaches the target site by passing through an existing body orifice, such as the mouth or urethra, or a surgically created opening like a stoma, without additional incision or scope guidance. It is distinguished from the Endoscopic variant by the absence of a visualizing scope, and from External by actually traversing into the body through that opening.

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 select this family when the documentation describes a deliberate, complete blockage of an airway lumen, whether achieved with an implanted valve, coil, or other blocking material, or by suturing or clipping a bronchus shut. The device value and specific bronchial or tracheal body part must match the operative note precisely, since occlusion is frequently performed at a segmental or subsegmental level. A common error is coding a therapeutic valve placement as Insertion alone without recognizing that the intent to block airflow makes Occlusion the more accurate root operation, or missing that occlusion of a bronchus during lobectomy for stump closure is typically integral to the resection and not coded separately.

Commonly Confused With

RestrictionOcclusion is often confused with Restriction, which narrows rather than completely closes a lumen; a partially constricting band would be Restriction, while a valve or ligature that stops all airflow is Occlusion.
ExcisionIt also differs from Excision, since occlusion leaves the airway segment in place but nonfunctional rather than removing tissue.