Obstetrics Terms

Get definitions for terms found in the Obstetrics section used in ICD-10-PCS procedure codes. These definitions may also provide additional explanation or examples in their use.

Obstetrics procedure codes have a first character value of “1”. The second character value for body system is Pregnancy. The root operations Change, Drainage, Extraction, Insertion, Inspection, Removal, Repair, Reposition, Resection and Transplantation are used in the obstetrics section, and have the same meaning as in the medical and surgical section.

The obstetrics section includes procedures performed on the products of conception only; procedures on the pregnant female are coded in the medical and surgical section (e.g., episiotomy). The term “products of conception” refers to all physical components of a pregnancy, including the fetus, amnion, umbilical cord and placenta. There is no differentiation of the products of conception based on gestational age. Thus, the specification of the products of conception as a zygote, embryo or fetus, or the trimester of the pregnancy, is not part of the procedure code but can be found in the diagnosis code.

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Obstetrics

Operation
Approach

Terms to Operation

Abortion: Artificially terminating a pregnancy
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
Delivery: Assisting the passage of the products of conception from the genital canal
Drainage: Taking or letting out fluids and/or gases from a body part
Extraction: Pulling or stripping out or off all or a portion of a body part by the use of force
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
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
Removal: Taking out or off a device from a body part, region or orifice; 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
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
Reposition: Moving to its normal location, or other suitable location, all or a portion of a body part; The body part is moved to a new location from an abnormal location, or from a normal location where it is not functioning correctly. The body part may or may not be cut out or off to be moved to the new location
Resection: Cutting out or off, without replacement, all of a body part
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