ICD-10-PCS Billable Code

0VTF0ZZ

Resection Spermatic Cord, Right to No Qualifier with No Device, Open Approach

Procedural Specifications

Clinical Axis Detail Definition
Section0 Medical and Surgical
Body SystemV Male Reproductive System
OperationT Resection
Body PartF Spermatic Cord, Right
Approach0 Open
DeviceZ No Device
QualifierZ No Qualifier

Operation Definition

Cutting out or off, without replacement, all of a body part

Procedure Overview

Resection procedures remove an entire body part of the male reproductive system without replacing it with other material. Orchiectomy - removal of one or both testes - is the most common example, performed for testicular cancer, as part of treatment for advanced prostate cancer, for severe trauma, or occasionally for chronic pain or infection unresponsive to other treatment. Other resection procedures in this family include removal of the entire epididymis or complete removal of the prostate and seminal vesicles.

These are typically definitive procedures aimed at eliminating diseased or damaged tissue rather than preserving it. Because the organ is removed in full, resection often has permanent effects on fertility and hormone production, which is part of why patients considering these procedures discuss options like sperm banking or hormone replacement beforehand.

Anatomy & Axis Detail

Spermatic Cord, Right

Complete resection of the right spermatic cord removes the vas deferens, testicular vessels, and surrounding fascia on that side, an extensive procedure reserved for circumstances such as malignant invasion of the cord by testicular cancer requiring high excision, severe chronic infection or fistula involving the cord, or as an extension of radical orchiectomy when tumor tracks proximally along the cord structures. Because the cord carries the sole arterial supply and venous drainage to the ipsilateral testis, resecting it necessarily sacrifices that testis as well, distinguishing this procedure from simple detorsion or repositioning. Surgeons typically approach through the inguinal canal to achieve proximal control and adequate margins, particularly in oncologic cases where residual cord tissue after prior orchiectomy raises concern for retained malignancy.

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.

Coding & Documentation

Coders assigning Resection need pathology or operative documentation confirming the entire organ was removed, not just a portion. A frequent error is coding Resection when only a partial excision was performed, such as a partial orchiectomy for a small testicular mass with preservation of remaining tissue - that scenario belongs under Excision instead. Laterality also matters: unilateral versus bilateral orchiectomy uses different body part values, and the note should state clearly whether one or both testes were removed.

Commonly Confused With

ExcisionResection is most often confused with Excision, where only part of the organ is cut out - the dividing line is whether any of the structure remains.
ReplacementIt also differs from Replacement, which follows removal with insertion of a prosthetic device; when a testicular implant is placed after orchiectomy, both the Resection and the separate Replacement should typically be captured.