ICD 10 Coding Alert

Familiarize yourself with the 28 possible numbers and letters.

The "Medical and Surgical" or "0" section of the ICD-10-PCS manual is the largest section. When you choose the appropriate PCS code from this section, you have to look for the body system to get to your code's second digit.

Definition: The "body system," according to the ICD-10-PCS guidelines, is a "general physiological system or anatomical region involved. Body systems are a collection or grouping of organs or contiguous body parts, shared (adjacent) body parts." You will find 28 body systems and 3 general anatomical regions. They are:

0 -- Central Nervous System

1 -- Peripheral Nervous System

2 -- Heart and Great Vessels

3 -- Upper Arteries

4 -- Lower Arteries

5 -- Upper Veins

6 -- Lower Veins

7 -- Lymphatic and Hemic Systems

8 -- Eye

9 -- Ear, Nose, Sinus

B -- Respiratory System

C -- Mouth and Throat

D -- Gastrointestinal System

F -- Hepatobiliary System and Pancreas

G -- Endocrine System

H -- Skin and Breast

J -- Subcutaneous Tissue and Fascia

K -- Muscles

L -- Tendons

M -- Bursae and Ligaments

N -- Head and Facial Bones

P -- Upper Bones

Q -- Lower Bones

R -- Upper Joints

S -- Lower Joints

T -- Urinary System

U -- Female Reproductive System

V -- Male Reproductive System

W -- Anatomical Regions, General

X -- Anatomical Regions, Upper Extremities

Y -- Anatomical Regions, Lower Extremities

Example 1: Suppose your surgeon performs a lysis of adhesions of the large intestine. You know that this code will come from the "0" section of your PCS manual. Your next step is to identify the second digit.

Solution 1: Because the procedure took place in the large intestine, you should look at "D," the gastrointestinal system. Your full code is 0DNE0ZZ.

Example 2: On the other hand, suppose your surgeon performs a change of a sinus drainage tube. Again, this procedure will come from the "0" section of your PCS manual, but what should you report for the second digit?

Solution 2: Because this procedure occurred in the sinuses, you should look at "9," which is for the ear, nose, and sinus. Your full code will be 092YXX.