Healthcare Insights

Top 25 surgical procedures (inpatient & outpatient)

According to Definitive Healthcare data, more than 58 million inpatient and 184 million outpatient surgical procedures were performed in 2016 (according to most recent CMS data).

The most popular outpatient procedure by far is a routine venipuncture (CPT code 36415). Routine venipunctures were performed nearly 113 million times in 2016, over 47 times more often than the next most common procedure, esophageal biopsy (CPT code 43239). The most commonly reported inpatient procedure is the insertion of an infusion device into the superior vena cava (ICD-10 code 02HV33Z). This procedure was performed more than twice as often as the second most commonly performed inpatient procedure, insertion of endotracheal airway into the trachea (ICD-10 code 0BH17EZ).

Outpatient procedures were performed approximately three times more then inpatient procedures. This could be a result of the shift from inpatient to outpatient care, and the emphasis on urgent care and outpatient surgery centers. As more procedures are shifted off the “inpatient-only” list, patients are free to seek care outside of the traditional inpatient hospital setting. Comprehensive joint replacement, one of the most popular procedures in the U.S., may be approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for insurance coverage at outpatient surgery centers.

Knee replacement surgeries currently place fifth and sixth for most popular inpatient surgeries. Interestingly, more than 12,000 replacements of the right knee joint were performed than replacements of the left knee.

Top 25 outpatient surgical procedures

ICD-10 DescriptionICD-10 CodeNumber of ProceduresExplore Dataset
1Insert. of Infusion Device into Superior Vena Cava, Percutaneous02HV33Z620,957Explore
2Insert. of Endotracheal Airway into Trachea0BH17EZ313,946Explore
3Inspection of Upper Intestinal Tract, Endoscopic0DJ08ZZ196,493Explore
4Excision of Stomach, Endoscopic, Diagnostic0DB68ZX177,121Explore
5Replacement of Right Knee Joint w/ Synthetic Substitute, Cemented, Open Approach0SRC0J9170,376Explore
6Replacement of Left Knee Joint w/ Synthetic Substitute, Cemented, Open Approach0SRD0J9158,600Explore
7Inspection of Lower Intestinal Tract, Endoscopic0DJD8ZZ122,498Explore
8Dilation of Coronary Artery, w/ Drug-eluting Intraluminal Device, Percutaneous Approach027034Z107,671Explore
9Insert. of Infusion Device into Right Internal Jugular Vein, Percutaneous Approach05HM33Z92,494Explore
10Insert. of Feeding Device into Stomach, Percutaneous0DH63UZ79,022Explore
11Insert.of Pacemaker Lead into Right Ventricle, Percutaneous02HK3JZ75,538Explore
12Resection of Gallbladder, Percutaneous Endoscopic0FT44ZZ72,196Explore
13Drainage of Right Pleural Cavity, Percutaneous0W993ZZ70,274Explore
14Drainage of Bladder w/ Drainage Device0T9B70Z69,913Explore
15Drainage of Peritoneal Cavity, Percutaneous0W9G3ZZ67,553Explore
16Insert. of Pacemaker Lead into Right Atrium, Percutaneous02H63JZ64,187Explore
17Insert. of Infusion Device into Right Atrium, Percutaneous02H633Z63,034Explore
18Bypass Coronary Artery, One Artery from Left Internal Mammary02100Z961,535Explore
19Drainage of Spinal Canal, Percutaneous Approach, Diagnostic009U3ZX60,056Explore
20Insert. of Pacemaker, Dual Chamber into Chest Subcutaneous Tissue and Fascia, Open Approach0JH606Z58,768Explore
21Excision of Duodenum, Endoscopic, Diagnostic0DB98ZX56,207Explore
22Drainage of Left Pleural Cavity, Percutaneous0W9B3ZZ49,105Explore
23Inspection of Tracheobronchial Tree, Endoscopic0BJ08ZZ48,109Explore
24Drainage of Right Pleural Cavity w/ Drainage Device, Percutaneous0W9930Z47,607Explore
25Excision of Toe Nail, External0HBRXZZ45,171Explore

Fig 2. Not including Routine Venipuncture (CPT code 36475). Data from Definitive Healthcare based on 2016 Medicare SAF
(1/1/2016 - 12/31/2016). All-Payor estimates are based on Definitive Healthcare calculations and algorithms. Calendar Year 2017 data
is projected to be released in fall 2018 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

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