The 3rd character refers to the root operation or the objective of the procedure.

Anatomical Regions, General

  • 0W0 - Alteration

    Modifying the anatomic structure of a body part without affecting the function of the body part — Principal purpose is to improve appearance

  • 0W1 - Bypass

    Altering the route of passage of the contents of a tubular body part — Rerouting contents of a body part to a downstream area of the normal route, to a similar route and body part, or to an abnormal route and dissimilar body part. Includes one or more anastomoses, with or without the use of a device

  • 0W2 - Change

    Taking out or off a device from a body part and putting back an identical or similar device in or on the same body part without cutting or puncturing the skin or a mucous membrane — All CHANGE procedures are coded using the approach EXTERNAL

  • 0W3 - Control

    Stopping, or attempting to stop, postprocedural or other acute bleeding

  • 0W4 - Creation

    Putting in or on biological or synthetic material to form a new body part that to the extent possible replicates the anatomic structure or function of an absent body part — Used for gender reassignment surgery and corrective procedures in individuals with congenital anomalies

  • 0W8 - Division

    Cutting into a body part, without draining fluids and/or gases from the body part, in order to separate or transect a body part — All or a portion of the body part is separated into two or more portions

  • 0W9 - Drainage

    Taking or letting out fluids and/or gases from a body part — The qualifier DIAGNOSTIC is used to identify drainage procedures that are biopsies

  • 0WB - Excision

    Cutting out or off, without replacement, a portion of a body part — The qualifier DIAGNOSTIC is used to identify excision procedures that are biopsies

  • 0WC - Extirpation

    Taking or cutting out solid matter from a body part — The solid matter may be an abnormal byproduct of a biological function or a foreign body; it may be imbedded in a body part or in the lumen of a tubular body part. The solid matter may or may not have been previously broken into pieces

  • 0WF - Fragmentation

    Breaking solid matter in a body part into pieces — Physical force (e.g., manual, ultrasonic) applied directly or indirectly is used to break the solid matter into pieces. The solid matter may be an abnormal byproduct of a biological function or a foreign body. The pieces of solid matter are not taken out

  • 0WH - Insertion

    Putting in a nonbiological appliance that monitors, assists, performs, or prevents a physiological function but does not physically take the place of a body part

  • 0WJ - Inspection

    Visually and/or manually exploring a body part — Visual exploration may be performed with or without optical instrumentation. Manual exploration may be performed directly or through intervening body layers

  • 0WM - Reattachment

    Putting back in or on all or a portion of a separated body part to its normal location or other suitable location — Vascular circulation and nervous pathways may or may not be reestablished

  • 0WP - Removal

    Taking out or off a device from a body part — If a device is taken out and a similar device put in without cutting or puncturing the skin or mucous membrane, the procedure is coded to the root operation CHANGE. Otherwise, the procedure for taking out a device is coded to the root operation REMOVAL

  • 0WQ - Repair

    Restoring, to the extent possible, a body part to its normal anatomic structure and function — Used only when the method to accomplish the repair is not one of the other root operations

  • 0WW - Revision

    Correcting, to the extent possible, a portion of a malfunctioning device or the position of a displaced device — Revision can include correcting a malfunctioning or displaced device by taking out or putting in components of the device such as a screw or pin

  • 0WU - Supplement

    Putting in or on biological or synthetic material that physically reinforces and/or augments the function of a portion of a body part — The biological material is non-living, or is living and from the same individual. The body part may have been previously replaced, and the Supplement procedure is performed to physically reinforce and/or augment the function of the replaced body part

  • 0WY - Transplantation

    Putting in or on all or a portion of a living body part taken from another individual or animal to physically take the place and/or function of all or a portion of a similar body part — The native body part may or may not be taken out, and the transplanted body part may take over all or a portion of its function