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

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group 3E1M includes procedures performed to irrigate physiological systems and anatomical regions in the Peritoneal Cavity. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when peritoneal cavity irrigation is performed to cleanse the abdominal cavity of contaminants, blood, or infectious material during a surgical or postoperative intervention. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS 3E1M group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the procedure performed and supports clinical documentation accuracy.

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Peritoneal Cavity Irrigation Procedure Overview

Procedures in this ICD-10-PCS group involve irrigation of the peritoneal cavity, targeting the physiological systems and anatomical regions associated with the abdomen. These irrigation procedures introduce cleansing solutions into the peritoneal space to remove contaminants, blood, or infectious material. Accurate coding of peritoneal cavity irrigation supports appropriate inpatient reimbursement by reflecting the specific procedure performed and its clinical complexity.

Code Attributes

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

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

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Peritoneal 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
M	Body Part	Peritoneal Cavity

When to Use

Use a code from this group when a clinician performs irrigation of the peritoneal cavity during surgery or as a separate therapeutic intervention to clear contamination or infection. These codes apply when the procedure involves deliberate introduction and evacuation of irrigating fluid from the peritoneal space.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

5 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
3E1M38X	Irrigation of Peritoneal Cavity using Irrigating Substance, Percutaneous Approach, Diagnostic
3E1M38Z	Irrigation of Peritoneal Cavity using Irrigating Substance, Percutaneous Approach
3E1M39Z	Irrigation of Peritoneal Cavity using Dialysate, Percutaneous Approach
3E1M48X	Irrigation of Peritoneal Cavity using Irrigating Substance, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach, Diagnostic
3E1M48Z	Irrigation of Peritoneal Cavity using Irrigating Substance, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A 45-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with acute peritonitis after a ruptured appendicitis with purulent contamination of the abdominal cavity. During an urgent exploratory laparotomy, the surgeon performs thorough irrigation of the peritoneal cavity with sterile irrigating solution and evacuates contaminated fluid to reduce bacterial load prior to abdominal closure. The irrigation is performed via an open surgical field but the code selection is limited to the supplied percutaneous/percutaneous endoscopic options, so the most applicable from the list reflects percutaneous approach documentation when recorded. Typical codes: 3E1M38Z
A 62-year-old man with end-stage renal disease is admitted for placement and testing of a peritoneal dialysis catheter; during the procedure, the peritoneal cavity is instilled and aspirated with dialysate to confirm catheter function and clear residual blood or debris. The irrigation is performed through the catheter percutaneously to assess flow and ensure patency before completing the procedure and initiating dialysis exchanges. Typical codes: 3E1M39Z
A 55-year-old patient develops postoperative intra-abdominal abscess after colorectal surgery with persistent localized contamination despite antibiotics. In a percutaneous drainage session guided by imaging, the interventional team performs lavage of the peritoneal cavity using an irrigating solution introduced and removed through the drainage catheter to control infection and prepare for subsequent drain management. The procedure is performed percutaneously under image guidance in the inpatient setting. Typical codes: 3E1M48X, 3E1M48Z

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

3E1L-PLEURAL-CAVITY-IRRIGATION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Pleural 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

5 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
3E1M38X	Irrigation of Peritoneal Cavity using Irrigating Substance, Percutaneous Approach, Diagnostic
3E1M38Z	Irrigation of Peritoneal Cavity using Irrigating Substance, Percutaneous Approach
3E1M39Z	Irrigation of Peritoneal Cavity using Dialysate, Percutaneous Approach
3E1M48X	Irrigation of Peritoneal Cavity using Irrigating Substance, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach, Diagnostic
3E1M48Z	Irrigation of Peritoneal Cavity using Irrigating Substance, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A 45-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with acute peritonitis after a ruptured appendicitis with purulent contamination of the abdominal cavity. During an urgent exploratory laparotomy, the surgeon performs thorough irrigation of the peritoneal cavity with sterile irrigating solution and evacuates contaminated fluid to reduce bacterial load prior to abdominal closure. The irrigation is performed via an open surgical field but the code selection is limited to the supplied percutaneous/percutaneous endoscopic options, so the most applicable from the list reflects percutaneous approach documentation when recorded. Typical codes: 3E1M38Z
A 62-year-old man with end-stage renal disease is admitted for placement and testing of a peritoneal dialysis catheter; during the procedure, the peritoneal cavity is instilled and aspirated with dialysate to confirm catheter function and clear residual blood or debris. The irrigation is performed through the catheter percutaneously to assess flow and ensure patency before completing the procedure and initiating dialysis exchanges. Typical codes: 3E1M39Z
A 55-year-old patient develops postoperative intra-abdominal abscess after colorectal surgery with persistent localized contamination despite antibiotics. In a percutaneous drainage session guided by imaging, the interventional team performs lavage of the peritoneal cavity using an irrigating solution introduced and removed through the drainage catheter to control infection and prepare for subsequent drain management. The procedure is performed percutaneously under image guidance in the inpatient setting. Typical codes: 3E1M48X, 3E1M48Z

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

3E1L-PLEURAL-CAVITY-IRRIGATION

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

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Peritoneal Cavity Irrigation Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

OpenPayer

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

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

Peritoneal 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 Peritoneal Cavity: Procedure Code Group Overview

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

Peritoneal Cavity Irrigation Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

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

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

Peritoneal 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 3E1M for the peritoneal cavity?

What is the clinical purpose of peritoneal cavity irrigation in these codes?

What are the code attributes for the 3E1M group in ICD-10-PCS?

How do the listed codes differentiate by approach and substance?

Why is accurate coding within ICD-10-PCS 3E1M important for inpatient documentation?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in ICD-10-PCS code group 3E1M for the peritoneal cavity?

What is the clinical purpose of peritoneal cavity irrigation in these codes?

What are the code attributes for the 3E1M group in ICD-10-PCS?

How do the listed codes differentiate by approach and substance?

Why is accurate coding within ICD-10-PCS 3E1M important for inpatient documentation?

References