ICD-10-PCS Code For Pleural Cavity: Procedure Code Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group 3E1L includes procedures performed to irrigate bodily spaces in the pleural cavity. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when cleansing of the pleural space is performed to remove contaminants, infectious material, or loose debris during a procedure. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS 3E1L group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the procedure performed and supports clinical documentation accuracy.

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Pleural Cavity Irrigation Procedure Overview

Procedures in this group involve the irrigation of the pleural cavity to cleanse or remove contaminants, fluid, or debris from the pleural space. These procedures target the physiological systems and anatomical regions associated with the pleural cavity and respiratory structures. Accurate ICD-10-PCS coding for pleural cavity irrigation supports appropriate inpatient reimbursement by ensuring the documented procedure matches the coded service and clinical record.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
3	Section	Administration
E	Body System	Physiological Systems and Anatomical Regions
1	Operation	Irrigation
L	Body Part	Pleural Cavity

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ICD-10-PCS Code For Pleural Cavity: Procedure Code Group Overview

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Pleural Cavity Irrigation Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
3	Section	Administration
E	Body System	Physiological Systems and Anatomical Regions
1	Operation	Irrigation
L	Body Part	Pleural Cavity

When to Use

Use a code from this group when irrigation of the pleural cavity is performed to cleanse, dilute, or remove contaminants or infected material during an inpatient procedure. These codes apply when the documented operative activity specifically describes irrigation of the pleural space as a distinct action.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

2 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
3E1L38X	Irrigation of Pleural Cavity using Irrigating Substance, Percutaneous Approach, Diagnostic
3E1L38Z	Irrigation of Pleural Cavity using Irrigating Substance, Percutaneous Approach

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An elderly patient presents to the hospital with acute dyspnea and fever; chest imaging demonstrates a large, multiloculated pleural effusion with suspected empyema. During a percutaneous chest tube placement for drainage, the pleural space is actively irrigated with sterile irrigating solution to break loculations and help clear purulent material prior to obtaining cultures and leaving the drainage catheter in place. The irrigation is documented as a distinct percutaneous cleansing action of the pleural cavity performed during the drainage procedure. Typical codes: 3E1L38Z
A patient is admitted electively for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery to evaluate recurrent, symptomatic pleural effusions. As part of the planned procedure, the surgeon performs percutaneous lavage of the pleural space using irrigating solution to remove residual blood and debris after evacuation of fluid and before closure. The operative note specifies irrigation of the pleural cavity via a percutaneous approach as part of the therapeutic intraoperative cleansing. Typical codes: 3E1L38Z
A hospitalized patient with an indwelling pleural drain develops persistent cloudy output and rising inflammatory markers despite initial drainage; during a bedside percutaneous procedure the clinician irrigates the pleural cavity with an irrigating substance and obtains repeat cultures to address ongoing contamination and assess treatment response. The record documents percutaneous irrigation of the pleural space performed as a separate cleansing maneuver during management of the complication. Typical codes: 3E1L38X, 3E1L38Z

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin And Mucous Membranes: Procedure Code Group Overview

3E19-NOSE-IRRIGATION

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

3E1B-EAR-IRRIGATION

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

3E1C-EYE-IRRIGATION

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

3E1F-RESPIRATORY-TRACT-IRRIGATION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Respiratory Tract: Procedure Code Group Overview

3E1G-UPPER-GI-IRRIGATION

ICD-10-PCS Code for Upper GI: Procedure Code Group Overview

3E1H-LOWER-GI-IRRIGATION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower GI: Procedure Code Group Overview

3E1J-BILIARY-AND-PANCREATIC-TRACT-IRRIGATION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Biliary And Pancreatic Tract: Procedure Code Group Overview

3E1K-GENITOURINARY-TRACT-IRRIGATION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Genitourinary Tract: Procedure Code Group Overview

3E1M-PERITONEAL-CAVITY-IRRIGATION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Peritoneal Cavity: Procedure Code Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 17

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
3E1L38X	Irrigation of Pleural Cavity using Irrigating Substance, Percutaneous Approach, Diagnostic
3E1L38Z	Irrigation of Pleural Cavity using Irrigating Substance, Percutaneous Approach

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An elderly patient presents to the hospital with acute dyspnea and fever; chest imaging demonstrates a large, multiloculated pleural effusion with suspected empyema. During a percutaneous chest tube placement for drainage, the pleural space is actively irrigated with sterile irrigating solution to break loculations and help clear purulent material prior to obtaining cultures and leaving the drainage catheter in place. The irrigation is documented as a distinct percutaneous cleansing action of the pleural cavity performed during the drainage procedure. Typical codes: 3E1L38Z
A patient is admitted electively for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery to evaluate recurrent, symptomatic pleural effusions. As part of the planned procedure, the surgeon performs percutaneous lavage of the pleural space using irrigating solution to remove residual blood and debris after evacuation of fluid and before closure. The operative note specifies irrigation of the pleural cavity via a percutaneous approach as part of the therapeutic intraoperative cleansing. Typical codes: 3E1L38Z
A hospitalized patient with an indwelling pleural drain develops persistent cloudy output and rising inflammatory markers despite initial drainage; during a bedside percutaneous procedure the clinician irrigates the pleural cavity with an irrigating substance and obtains repeat cultures to address ongoing contamination and assess treatment response. The record documents percutaneous irrigation of the pleural space performed as a separate cleansing maneuver during management of the complication. Typical codes: 3E1L38X, 3E1L38Z

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin And Mucous Membranes: Procedure Code Group Overview

3E19-NOSE-IRRIGATION

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

3E1B-EAR-IRRIGATION

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

3E1C-EYE-IRRIGATION

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

3E1F-RESPIRATORY-TRACT-IRRIGATION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Respiratory Tract: Procedure Code Group Overview

3E1G-UPPER-GI-IRRIGATION

ICD-10-PCS Code for Upper GI: Procedure Code Group Overview

3E1H-LOWER-GI-IRRIGATION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower GI: Procedure Code Group Overview

3E1J-BILIARY-AND-PANCREATIC-TRACT-IRRIGATION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Biliary And Pancreatic Tract: Procedure Code Group Overview

3E1K-GENITOURINARY-TRACT-IRRIGATION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Genitourinary Tract: Procedure Code Group Overview

3E1M-PERITONEAL-CAVITY-IRRIGATION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Peritoneal Cavity: Procedure Code Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 17

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.

OpenPayer

ICD-10-PCS Code For Pleural Cavity: Procedure Code Group Overview

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

Pleural Cavity Irrigation Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

OpenPayer

ICD-10-PCS Code For Pleural Cavity: Procedure Code Group Overview

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

Pleural Cavity Irrigation Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

References

ICD-10-PCS Code For Pleural Cavity: Procedure Code Group Overview

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

Pleural Cavity Irrigation Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

ICD-10-PCS Code For Pleural Cavity: Procedure Code Group Overview

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

Pleural Cavity Irrigation Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in ICD-10-PCS code group 3E1L?

What are the specific ICD-10-PCS codes in this pleural cavity irrigation group?

Under which ICD-10-PCS section and body system are these codes classified?

How does accurate coding within the 3E1L group affect inpatient reimbursement?

Are there related DRGs listed for the pleural cavity irrigation codes?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in ICD-10-PCS code group 3E1L?

What are the specific ICD-10-PCS codes in this pleural cavity irrigation group?

Under which ICD-10-PCS section and body system are these codes classified?

How does accurate coding within the 3E1L group affect inpatient reimbursement?

Are there related DRGs listed for the pleural cavity irrigation codes?

References