ICD-10-PCS Code For Brain: Procedure Code Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group 0020 includes procedures performed to change devices in the brain. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when a device already in or on the brain is removed and a similar or identical device is reinserted without cutting or puncturing the skin or mucous membrane. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS 0020 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the procedure performed and supports clinical documentation accuracy.

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Brain Change Procedure Overview

This procedure group includes inpatient procedures that remove a device from the brain and place an identical or similar device back in or on the brain without cutting or puncturing the skin or mucous membrane. These procedures target the central nervous system and cranial nerves and involve noninvasive change of implanted or external devices. Accurate coding reflects the specific operation and anatomic site, which affects case mix grouping and inpatient payment.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
0	Body System	Central Nervous System and Cranial Nerves
2	Operation	Change
0	Body Part	Brain

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ICD-10-PCS Code For Brain: Procedure Code Group Overview

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Brain Change Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
0	Body System	Central Nervous System and Cranial Nerves
2	Operation	Change
0	Body Part	Brain

When to Use

Use a code from this group when an implanted or external device in or on the brain is removed and a similar or identical device is reinserted without cutting or puncturing skin or mucous membrane. These codes apply to inpatient reporting of noninvasive device change procedures involving the brain.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

2 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0020X0Z	Change Drainage Device in Brain, External Approach
0020XYZ	Change Other Device in Brain, External Approach

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A patient presents to the inpatient neurosurgery service with an external ventricular drain (EVD) in place for acute hydrocephalus after subarachnoid hemorrhage. The EVD is malfunctioning with elevated intracranial pressures and radiographic evidence of catheter obstruction; the neurosurgeon removes the existing drain and places a new external ventricular drainage catheter at the same scalp entry site without creating a skin incision or puncturing a mucous membrane. A change procedure is performed to restore cerebrospinal fluid diversion and intracranial pressure control. Typical codes: 0020X0Z
An inpatient scheduled electively for management of a chronically externalized monitoring catheter that has degraded over time; the patient has an external brain monitoring device in situ for seizure focus localization. During the planned admission the team removes the existing external monitoring electrode catheter and inserts an identical external device at the same entry site without cutting or puncturing skin or mucosa to continue monitoring safely. Typical codes: 0020X0Z
A patient is admitted with a surgical site infection involving an external intracranial device tract but without deep brain penetration; the infected external device is removed and, after tract irrigation and confirmation of infection control measures, a replacement external device of the same type is placed at the same cranial site without a new incision or mucous membrane puncture to maintain therapeutic function. The procedure addresses device failure related to infection while avoiding more invasive access. Typical codes: 0020X0Z, 0020XYZ

Related Codes

002E-CRANIAL-NERVE-CHANGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cranial Nerve: Procedure Code Group Overview

002U-SPINAL-CANAL-CHANGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Spinal Canal: Procedure Code Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

2 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0020X0Z	Change Drainage Device in Brain, External Approach
0020XYZ	Change Other Device in Brain, External Approach

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A patient presents to the inpatient neurosurgery service with an external ventricular drain (EVD) in place for acute hydrocephalus after subarachnoid hemorrhage. The EVD is malfunctioning with elevated intracranial pressures and radiographic evidence of catheter obstruction; the neurosurgeon removes the existing drain and places a new external ventricular drainage catheter at the same scalp entry site without creating a skin incision or puncturing a mucous membrane. A change procedure is performed to restore cerebrospinal fluid diversion and intracranial pressure control. Typical codes: 0020X0Z
An inpatient scheduled electively for management of a chronically externalized monitoring catheter that has degraded over time; the patient has an external brain monitoring device in situ for seizure focus localization. During the planned admission the team removes the existing external monitoring electrode catheter and inserts an identical external device at the same entry site without cutting or puncturing skin or mucosa to continue monitoring safely. Typical codes: 0020X0Z
A patient is admitted with a surgical site infection involving an external intracranial device tract but without deep brain penetration; the infected external device is removed and, after tract irrigation and confirmation of infection control measures, a replacement external device of the same type is placed at the same cranial site without a new incision or mucous membrane puncture to maintain therapeutic function. The procedure addresses device failure related to infection while avoiding more invasive access. Typical codes: 0020X0Z, 0020XYZ

Related Codes

002E-CRANIAL-NERVE-CHANGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cranial Nerve: Procedure Code Group Overview

002U-SPINAL-CANAL-CHANGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Spinal Canal: Procedure Code Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-PCS Code For Brain: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Brain: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Brain Change Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

ICD-10-PCS Code For Brain: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Brain: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Brain Change Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What types of procedures are included in ICD-10-PCS code group 0020?

What is the operation and body system specified for code group 0020?

Which specific ICD-10-PCS codes are listed in the 0020 group?

When should ICD-10-PCS 0020 codes be used for inpatient documentation?

Are there any related DRGs listed for the 0020 code group?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What types of procedures are included in ICD-10-PCS code group 0020?

What is the operation and body system specified for code group 0020?

Which specific ICD-10-PCS codes are listed in the 0020 group?

When should ICD-10-PCS 0020 codes be used for inpatient documentation?

Are there any related DRGs listed for the 0020 code group?

References