07Q83ZZ
Repair Lymphatic, Internal Mammary, Right to No Qualifier with No Device, Percutaneous Approach
Procedural Specifications
| Clinical Axis | Detail Definition |
|---|---|
| Section | 0 Medical and Surgical |
| Body System | 7 Lymphatic and Hemic Systems |
| Operation | Q Repair |
| Body Part | 8 Lymphatic, Internal Mammary, Right |
| Approach | 3 Percutaneous |
| Device | Z No Device |
| Qualifier | Z No Qualifier |
Operation Definition
Restoring, to the extent possible, a body part to its normal anatomic structure and function
Procedure Overview
Repair in this body system is the catch-all corrective procedure used when a lymphatic or hemic structure - most often the spleen, but also lymph nodes, the thymus, or the thoracic duct - has been damaged and needs to be restored to as close to normal anatomy and function as possible, using a technique that does not fit any more specific root operation. A classic example is suturing a lacerated spleen after blunt trauma, sometimes called splenorrhaphy, to control bleeding while preserving the organ rather than removing it. Another is closing a lymphatic fistula or leak, such as a chyle leak from an injured thoracic duct.
These procedures matter clinically because they aim to save the organ or vessel and its function, which for the spleen in particular helps preserve immune defenses that would be lost with removal.
Anatomy & Axis Detail
Lymphatic, Internal Mammary, Right
The right internal mammary (parasternal) lymph nodes lie along the internal thoracic vessels just behind the sternum, receiving drainage from the medial breast, anterior chest wall, and upper abdominal wall on that side. Repair of this chain is uncommon and typically follows iatrogenic injury during cardiac, thoracic, or reconstructive breast surgery where the internal mammary vessels are harvested or exposed, resulting in a lymphatic leak or fistula. Because these nodes sit deep to the costal cartilages and close to the pleura, repair requires careful dissection to avoid pneumothorax while restoring the damaged lymphatic channel. Correct laterality coding matters here, as right-sided internal mammary lymphatic injury is often linked to right-sided cardiac or thoracic procedures, and documentation should confirm the repair targets this specific nodal chain rather than adjacent thoracic lymphatics.
Approach: Percutaneous
Percutaneous describes entry by needle or instrument puncture through the skin or mucous membrane to reach the site of the procedure, without cutting the tissue open or using a visualizing scope. It differs from Open in that the site itself is never exposed, and from Percutaneous Endoscopic in that no endoscope is used to see internal structures. Common examples include needle biopsies and injections.
Coding & Documentation
Repair is a default root operation, so coders should only assign it after ruling out that the documented technique matches one of the more specific root operations - Release, Reposition, Resection, or a reconstructive operation like Replacement or Supplement. If the note describes suturing a spleen laceration with no other technique implied, Repair is appropriate; if it describes removing damaged splenic tissue along with the repair, part of the procedure may need to be coded as Excision instead. A common documentation gap is a vague operative note that says "repaired" without describing what was actually done, forcing the coder to query the physician rather than guess. Coders should also verify the correct body part, since a thoracic duct repair and a splenic repair use different values.