07QG3ZZ
Repair Lymphatic, Left Lower Extremity 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 | G Lymphatic, Left Lower Extremity |
| 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, Left Lower Extremity
This value covers lymphatic vessels and nodes of the left lower extremity above the inguinal chain, structures responsible for draining the left leg and foot that can be damaged during vascular access, orthopedic surgery, or penetrating or blunt trauma to the limb. Repair is used when the intent is to close or restore a specific injured lymphatic channel, addressing a leak or disruption rather than removing tissue or rerouting flow around an obstruction. Because lymphatic vessels in the leg are often small and thin-walled, injuries can be subtle and may only become apparent as postoperative swelling or drainage, prompting a return to the operating room. Left laterality should be confirmed against the operative note, and the record should clarify that this is a discrete repair rather than management of established chronic lymphedema.
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.