0TR67JZ
Replacement Ureter, Right to No Qualifier with Synthetic Substitute, Via Natural or Artificial Opening Approach
Procedural Specifications
| Clinical Axis | Detail Definition |
|---|---|
| Section | 0 Medical and Surgical |
| Body System | T Urinary System |
| Operation | R Replacement |
| Body Part | 6 Ureter, Right |
| Approach | 7 Via Natural or Artificial Opening |
| Device | J Synthetic Substitute |
| Qualifier | Z 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 put in biological or synthetic material that physically takes over for all or part of a urinary structure that has been removed or has failed. The clearest example is placement of an artificial urinary sphincter to manage stress incontinence, or use of a segment of bowel or synthetic material to reconstruct the bladder after part of it has been taken out.
These procedures are chosen when native tissue can no longer perform its job and a substitute - whether a manufactured device or tissue moved from elsewhere in the body - is put in its place. Candidates include patients recovering from bladder cancer surgery, those with severe incontinence unresponsive to other treatments, or people whose urethra has been damaged beyond simple repair.
Because the replaced material functions in place of the original structure going forward, these procedures are usually more involved and longer-lasting in their effect than repair or reposition.
Anatomy & Axis Detail
Ureter, Right
Replacement of the right ureter involves removing a diseased or damaged segment and substituting it with other tissue, most commonly an ileal segment used to bridge a long defect from extensive stricture, malignancy, radiation injury, or failed prior repair. This differs from a direct suture repair in that ureteral continuity is restored using nonureteral tissue rather than the patient's own ureteral wall alone. Because the ureter's small caliber and peristaltic function are difficult to replicate, the replacement segment is fashioned and anastomosed carefully to minimize reflux and maintain adequate drainage from the kidney to the bladder. A stent is typically left across the reconstruction during healing. Documentation should make clear that a segment was excised and substituted with graft tissue, distinguishing this from repair, dilation, or bypass procedures coded elsewhere.
Approach: Via Natural or Artificial Opening
Via Natural or Artificial Opening means the instrument reaches the target site by passing through an existing body orifice, such as the mouth or urethra, or a surgically created opening like a stoma, without additional incision or scope guidance. It is distinguished from the Endoscopic variant by the absence of a visualizing scope, and from External by actually traversing into the body through that opening.
Device: Synthetic Substitute
Synthetic Substitute designates a device made from manufactured, non-biologic material, such as mesh or prosthetic components, used to replace or augment a body part. It is distinguished from the two tissue substitute categories by its artificial composition, which carries different considerations for integration and long-term durability than biologic grafts.
Coding & Documentation
Documentation must show that material - whether a device, donor tissue, or the patient's own tissue harvested from elsewhere - was put in to functionally substitute for the body part, not just reinforce or patch it. The note should identify the material used and confirm that any diseased or damaged native tissue was removed first, since Replacement often follows a Resection or Excision performed in the same operative session.
A common coding mistake is applying Replacement when the correct root operation is actually Supplement, which reinforces existing tissue without taking over its function entirely. Coders also sometimes overlook that bladder augmentation using a bowel segment qualifies as Replacement because it uses tissue to take over bladder function, and instead code it only as the harvesting procedure.