ICD-10-PCS Billable Code

07QJ3ZZ

Repair Lymphatic, Left Inguinal to No Qualifier with No Device, Percutaneous Approach

Procedural Specifications

Clinical Axis Detail Definition
Section0 Medical and Surgical
Body System7 Lymphatic and Hemic Systems
OperationQ Repair
Body PartJ Lymphatic, Left Inguinal
Approach3 Percutaneous
DeviceZ No Device
QualifierZ 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, Left Inguinal

The left inguinal lymph nodes lie in the left groin along the femoral triangle, draining the left lower limb, external genitalia, and lower abdominal wall, and are a frequent access site for femoral catheterization and endovascular procedures. Repair here is indicated when a lymphatic vessel or node is inadvertently injured during such access, or by direct trauma, producing a leak, lymphocele, or wound complication at the groin. Because the femoral artery, vein, and nerve run immediately adjacent to these nodes, careful dissection is required to isolate and close the lymphatic defect without vascular or neural injury. This value reflects a discrete restorative procedure on the left inguinal chain and should be differentiated from therapeutic lymph node dissection performed for oncologic purposes.

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.

Commonly Confused With

ExcisionRepair is most often confused with Excision when a damaged portion of tissue is trimmed away as part of fixing the injury - if tissue is cut out and discarded rather than closed or restored, Excision (or another root operation) may apply to that portion.
SupplementIt is also distinguished from Supplement, which is used when biological or synthetic material is added to reinforce a structure rather than simply closing or fixing it directly.