ICD-10-PCS Billable Code

0VTB0ZZ

Resection Testis, Left 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 PartB Testis, Left
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

Testis, Left

The left testis, structurally and functionally identical to its right-sided pair, undergoes complete resection for the same principal indications: malignant tumor confined to the gland, nonviable torsion, severe trauma, or as a component of androgen-deprivation therapy in prostate cancer. The inguinal approach with early high ligation of the spermatic cord vessels is standard, particularly when cancer is suspected, since this technique limits vascular and lymphatic spread during removal. Because the left testicular vein drains into the left renal vein rather than directly into the vena cava, surgeons remain attentive to this venous anatomy during dissection. As with the right side, unilateral left orchiectomy typically leaves fertility and hormonal function intact through the remaining testis, and laterality must be specified to differentiate the procedure from bilateral removal.

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.