ICD-10-PCS Billable Code

0VU38KZ

Supplement Seminal Vesicles, Bilateral to No Qualifier with Nonautologous Tissue Substitute, Via Natural or Artificial Opening Endoscopic Approach

Procedural Specifications

Clinical Axis Detail Definition
Section0 Medical and Surgical
Body SystemV Male Reproductive System
OperationU Supplement
Body Part3 Seminal Vesicles, Bilateral
Approach8 Via Natural or Artificial Opening Endoscopic
DeviceK Nonautologous Tissue Substitute
QualifierZ No Qualifier

Operation Definition

Putting in or on biological or synthetic material that physically reinforces and/or augments the function of a portion of a body part

Procedure Overview

Supplement procedures put in biological or synthetic material to reinforce or augment a body part that is still present, rather than replacing or repairing it outright. In the male reproductive system this includes using graft material - synthetic mesh or donor tissue - to reinforce the tunica albuginea during correction of Peyronie's disease, or grafting to support tissue during complex penile or scrotal reconstruction. The native structure stays in place; the graft adds strength or bulk it currently lacks.

These procedures are often part of reconstructive surgery for congenital conditions, traumatic injury, or acquired scarring conditions like Peyronie's disease, where the goal is to correct curvature or reinforce a weakened area while preserving the patient's own tissue.

Anatomy & Axis Detail

Seminal Vesicles, Bilateral

Bilateral supplementation of the seminal vesicles reinforces both accessory glands simultaneously with graft or substitute material, a scenario generally limited to extensive pelvic reconstructive surgery where trauma, congenital bilateral anomaly, or prior extensive resection has structurally weakened both glands but preservation of some native tissue on each side remains possible. This bilateral approach is far less common than unilateral procedures given the deep, closely paired location of the vesicles near the bladder base and rectum, and it demands precise surgical planning to avoid injury to surrounding structures during graft placement on both sides. The operative report should confirm that both vesicles received augmentation material within the same encounter to justify the bilateral body part designation.

Approach: Via Natural or Artificial Opening Endoscopic

Via Natural or Artificial Opening Endoscopic describes instrumentation introduced through a natural orifice or a surgically created opening while using an endoscope for visualization, as in a routine colonoscopy performed through the anus. It differs from the plain Via Natural or Artificial Opening value by the added scope, and from Percutaneous Endoscopic by using an existing passage rather than a new skin puncture.

Device: Nonautologous Tissue Substitute

Nonautologous Tissue Substitute refers to biologic material sourced from a donor or another species, such as an allograft or xenograft, used to replace a body part. It differs from Autologous Tissue Substitute by tissue origin outside the patient's own body, and from Synthetic Substitute by being biologic rather than manufactured material.

Coding & Documentation

Correct coding depends on the operative note specifying that graft or reinforcing material was added to an existing structure, along with the type of material used - autograft, allograft, or synthetic - since this drives the device or qualifier value. A common mistake is coding Supplement when the documentation actually describes a Repair alone with simple suture closure and no reinforcing material, or conversely missing the Supplement code when a Peyronie's plaque incision was reinforced with a graft that should be captured separately from the underlying procedure.

Commonly Confused With

ReplacementSupplement is frequently confused with Replacement, since both involve putting material into the body - the distinction is whether the native body part remains (Supplement) or is removed and substituted (Replacement).
RepairIt also differs from Repair, which restores a damaged structure using the body's own tissue without adding reinforcing material.

Procedural Guidance & FAQs

Coding Accuracy

Is 0VU38KZ a billable procedure?

Yes, 0VU38KZ is a complete, 7-character procedural specification that is acceptable for hospital claim reimbursement.

Technical Axis

What approach is used for 0VU38KZ?

This procedure utilizes the Via Natural or Artificial Opening Endoscopic approach, mapping to the 5th character in the PCS axis.

Metadata Tags

seminal nonautologous natural bilateral opening tissue artificial supplement endoscopic