ICD-10-PCS Billable Code

04LS4DZ

Occlusion Posterior Tibial Artery, Left to No Qualifier with Intraluminal Device, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach

Procedural Specifications

Clinical Axis Detail Definition
Section0 Medical and Surgical
Body System4 Lower Arteries
OperationL Occlusion
Body PartS Posterior Tibial Artery, Left
Approach4 Percutaneous Endoscopic
DeviceD Intraluminal Device
QualifierZ 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

Posterior Tibial Artery, Left

The left posterior tibial artery runs deep along the back of the calf toward the plantar arch of the foot, and occlusion of this vessel is typically indicated for traumatic injury, a pseudoaneurysm, or an arteriovenous malformation confined to this segment rather than for elective treatment of arterial narrowing. Its course near the tibial nerve and its role as a major supplier of the plantar circulation mean that the interventionalist must weigh the risk to foot perfusion carefully, generally verifying that the anterior tibial and peroneal arteries are intact before proceeding. Coil or particle embolization under fluoroscopic guidance is the standard technique, and clear documentation of the clinical indication is important given how selectively this vessel is occluded.

Approach: Percutaneous Endoscopic

Percutaneous Endoscopic combines a puncture through skin or mucous membrane with insertion of an endoscope to visualize the procedure internally, as in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. It is distinguished from plain Percutaneous by the presence of scope-guided visualization, and from Via Natural or Artificial Opening Endoscopic by its route being a new puncture rather than an existing orifice or stoma.

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 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.

Commonly Confused With

RestrictionRestriction is the procedure most easily confused with Occlusion, since both narrow a vessel, but Restriction only partially reduces the diameter or flow while Occlusion eliminates it completely - the operative note's description of the intended endpoint is the deciding factor.
DestructionDestruction is another neighboring concept when tissue rather than a vessel lumen is being eliminated, and coders should check whether the artery itself was closed versus abnormal tissue fed by it being obliterated.