Certified Outpatient Coder (COC) Practice Exam

Which root operation is defined as "Stopping, or attempting to stop, postprocedural or other bleeding"?

1. Control

2. Drainage

3. Repair

4. Resection

The correct answer is: Control

The root operation defined as "Stopping, or attempting to stop, postprocedural or other bleeding" is accurately described by the term "Control." This term is specifically used in medical coding to indicate procedures that are performed to halt bleeding. It encompasses various surgical interventions that may be conducted to manage excessive bleeding, often as a result of external or internal trauma, surgery, or various medical conditions. For instance, a physician may perform a procedure where they ligate blood vessels to prevent hemorrhage, and this would be coded under Control. The focus of this operation is distinctly on stopping the bleeding rather than on removing tissue or fluid, which is the emphasis in other root operations. In contrast, Drainage refers to the removal of fluids or gases from a body cavity, Repair involves restoring the anatomy and function of a body part, and Resection means cutting out or removing a portion of a body part. Each of these operations serves a different purpose and does not directly relate to the act of stopping bleeding.