ICD-10-PCS Billable Code

04R907Z

Replacement Renal Artery, Right to No Qualifier with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach

Procedural Specifications

Clinical Axis Detail Definition
Section0 Medical and Surgical
Body System4 Lower Arteries
OperationR Replacement
Body Part9 Renal Artery, Right
Approach0 Open
Device7 Autologous Tissue Substitute
QualifierZ No Qualifier

Operation Definition

Putting in or on biological or synthetic material that physically takes the place and/or function of all or a portion of a body part

Procedure Overview

Replacement procedures in the lower arteries involve taking out a diseased or damaged arterial segment and putting in synthetic graft material or biological tissue to physically stand in for that piece of vessel. This is distinct from simply patching or reinforcing an artery, since the native segment is functionally substituted rather than preserved and bolstered.

A classic example is an aortobifemoral or femoral-popliteal graft placed after removing a severely diseased, occluded, or aneurysmal segment of artery, using a synthetic conduit such as Dacron or PTFE, or in some cases a harvested vein used as a full segmental replacement. Patients typically arrive at this procedure after conservative management or angioplasty has failed, or when an aneurysm poses a rupture risk that mandates excising the weakened wall.

Anatomy & Axis Detail

Renal Artery, Right

The right renal artery arises from the abdominal aorta and supplies the entire right kidney, making its diameter and length critical to graft selection when replacement is required. Segments are most often replaced after severe atherosclerotic stenosis unresponsive to angioplasty, a mycotic or dissecting aneurysm, or trauma during nephrectomy-adjacent surgery, since compromised flow here can precipitate renovascular hypertension or renal infarction. Because the vessel is short and lies close to the vena cava and duodenum, surgeons frequently use autologous vein, a synthetic graft, or a segment harvested from another vessel to reconstruct the arterial course from aorta to renal hilum. Documentation should reflect that the substitute material physically takes the place of the native right renal artery rather than simply reinforcing it, distinguishing this from a supplement procedure performed on the same structure.

Approach: Open

Open approach means the surgeon cuts through skin, mucous membrane, or other tissue layers to physically expose the target site to view before performing the procedure. It gives direct visualization and hands-on access, distinguishing it from Percutaneous approaches where instruments pass through a small puncture without exposing the site. Open is typical for procedures needing wide access, such as most laparotomies.

Device: Autologous Tissue Substitute

Autologous Tissue Substitute identifies a device value where material harvested from the patient's own body, such as an autograft, is used to replace or reconstruct a body part. Its defining feature is tissue origin from the patient, setting it apart from Nonautologous Tissue Substitute, sourced from a donor or animal, and Synthetic Substitute, made of manufactured material.

Coding & Documentation

The operative report must clearly establish that a segment of native artery was excised or its function replaced, and that a graft or biological material took its place, distinguishing this from Bypass, where the diseased segment is left in place and a new route is constructed around it. Coders should identify the specific arterial body part value replaced and the device value representing the graft material, whether autologous, nonautologous, or synthetic.

A common error is coding a bypass graft as a Replacement when the original artery segment was left intact and simply routed around; another is failing to capture the correct device value when a combination of graft materials was used in a single reconstruction.

Commonly Confused With

BypassBypass is the procedure most often mixed up with Replacement because both use graft material, but Bypass creates an alternate route while leaving the native, diseased vessel in place, whereas Replacement removes the native segment outright.
SupplementSupplement can also be confused with Replacement when a graft is used to reinforce rather than substitute for a vessel wall; if the native artery remains and the graft simply adds strength or bulk, Supplement is the correct root operation instead.