03NN0ZZRelease Left External Carotid Artery, Open Approach
- Billable / Specific Code
03NN0ZZ is a billable ICD-10-PCS procedure code for Release Left External Carotid Artery, Open Approach. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRGs 252, 253, 254. The root operation Release involves freeing a body part from an abnormal physical constraint by cutting or by the use of force.
Code Identity
PCS Table Breakdown
Each ICD-10-PCS code is built from seven characters, each an axis of the procedure. Hover or tap the icons for the official CMS definitions.
| Position | Designation | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Section | 0 | Medical and Surgical |
| 2 | Body System | 3 | Upper Arteries |
| 3 | Operation | N | Release |
| 4 | BodyPart | N | External Carotid Artery, Left |
| 5 | Approach | 0 | Open |
| 6 | Device | Z | No Device |
| 7 | Qualifier | Z | No Qualifier |
Convert to ICD-9-PCS
Closest ICD-9-PCS equivalents for 03NN0ZZ under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Similar Procedure Codes
Questions About 03NN0ZZ
Is 03NN0ZZ a billable code?
Yes. 03NN0ZZ is a complete seven-character ICD-10-PCS code, specific enough to report Release Left External Carotid Artery, Open Approach on inpatient claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What do the characters in 03NN0ZZ mean?
03NN0ZZ breaks down character by character: the 1st character 0 is the Section (Medical and Surgical); the 2nd character 3 is the Body System (Upper Arteries); the 3rd character N is the Operation (Release); the 4th character N is the BodyPart (External Carotid Artery, Left); the 5th character 0 is the Approach (Open); the 6th character Z is the Device (No Device); the 7th character Z is the Qualifier (No Qualifier).
What MS-DRG does 03NN0ZZ group to?
On an inpatient stay, Release Left External Carotid Artery, Open Approach maps to MS-DRGs 252, 253, 254, with relative weights from 1.7817 to 3.4883. The MS-DRG sets the fixed Medicare payment for the stay.
What is the ICD-9-PCS equivalent of 03NN0ZZ?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, Release Left External Carotid Artery, Open Approach crosswalks to ICD-9-PCS 39.91. The mapping is approximate, so confirm it fits the documentation.
