Healthcare Insights
Top inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures
Surgery is a medical treatment provided through an incision in the body large enough for the procedure to be performed. Whether it is elective or emergency, surgery is done for many reasons, such as making or confirming a diagnosis, repairing or transplanting tissues or organs, implanting a medical device, improving physical appearance, and much more.
According to our healthcare commercial intelligence, more than 1.5 billion surgeries were performed for calendar year 2022.
Inpatient vs. outpatient surgery
Inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures have important differences that impact patient care, healthcare costs, and resource allocation in the healthcare system.
The key difference is that inpatient surgeries are performed in a hospital setting, and patients typically stay there for at least one night after the procedure. These surgeries are generally reserved for patients with more complex or serious medical conditions and subsequently require extensive post-operative care and monitoring. Outpatient surgeries, also known as same-day or ambulatory surgeries, may be performed in a surgical center or hospital, but the patient is discharged the same day as the procedure.
Using intelligence from the Atlas All-Payor Claims Dataset, the following tables rank the most commonly performed inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures.
| Rank | ICD-10 PCS Code | Description | % of Inpatient Surgical Procedures | Explore dataset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 02HV33Z | Insertion of Infusion Device into Superior Vena Cava, Percutaneous Approach | 5.7% | Explore |
| 2 | 0BH17EZ | Insertion of Endotracheal Airway into Trachea, Via Natural or Artificial Opening | 2.7% | Explore |
| 3 | 0DJ08ZZ | Inspection of Upper Intestinal Tract, Via Natural or Artificial Opening Endoscopic | 1.7% | Explore |
| 4 | 03HY32Z | Insertion of Monitoring Device into Upper Artery, Percutaneous Approach | 1.4% | Explore |
| 5 | 0DB68ZX | Excision of Stomach, Via Natural or Artificial Opening Endoscopic, Diagnostic | 1.2% | Explore |
| 6 | 0DJD8ZZ | Inspection of Lower Intestinal Tract, Via Natural or Artificial Opening Endoscopic | 1.1% | Explore |
| 7 | 0W993ZZ | Drainage of Right Pleural Cavity, Percutaneous Approach | 1.0% | Explore |
| 8 | 0W9G3ZZ | Drainage of Peritoneal Cavity, Percutaneous Approach | 0.9% | Explore |
| 9 | 027034Z | Dilation of Coronary Artery, One Artery with Drug-eluting Intraluminal Device, Percutaneous Approach | 0.9% | Explore |
| 10 | 05HY33Z | Insertion of Infusion Device into Upper Vein, Percutaneous Approach | 0.8% | Explore |
Fig. 1 Data is from the Definitive Healthcare Atlas All-Payor Claims Dataset for calendar year 2022. Note that CPT Code 36475 (Routine Venipuncture) is not included.
What are the most common inpatient surgical procedures?
The most common inpatient surgical procedure performed in 2022 was ICD-10 code 02HV33Z. This cardiac procedure involves the insertion of a central catheter that ultimately terminates the patient’s superior vena cava, a large, valveless vein that pumps deoxygenated blood from the upper half of the body and returns it to the right atrium. This procedure accounted for 5.7% of all inpatient surgeries done in 2022.
In second place is ICD-10 code 0BH17EZ. This procedure involves the insertion of an endotracheal tube that is placed between the vocal cords and through the trachea. The device provides oxygen to the lungs and protects the lungs from contamination. The procedure accounted for 2.7% of all inpatient surgical procedures in 2022.
In third place is ICD-10 code 0DJ08ZZ. This procedure examines a patient’s upper digestive system to diagnose or treat certain conditions. A specialist typically administers this procedure with the help of a tiny camera on the end of a long, flexible tube. This procedure accounted for 1.7% of all inpatient surgeries done in 2022.
| Rank | CPT Code | Description | % of Outpatient Surgical Procedures | Explore dataset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11042 | Debridement, Subcutaneous Tissue (Includes Epidermis And Dermis, If Performed); First 20 Sq Cm Or Less | 4.7% | Explore |
| 2 | 36591 | Collection Of Blood Specimen From A Completely Implantable Venous Access Device | 3.5% | Explore |
| 3 | 20610 | Arthrocentesis, Aspiration And/Or Injection, Major Joint Or Bursa (Eg, Shoulder, Hip, Knee, Subacromial Bursa); Without Ultrasound Guidance | 3.4% | Explore |
| 4 | 36416 | Collection Of Capillary Blood Specimen (Eg, Finger, Heel, Ear Stick) | 3.3% | Explore |
| 5 | 43239 | Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, Flexible, Transoral; With Biopsy, Single Or Multiple | 2.9% | Explore |
| 6 | 36430 | Transfusion, Blood Or Blood Components | 2.5% | Explore |
| 7 | 45385 | Colonoscopy, Flexible; With Removal Of Tumor(s), Polyp(s), Or Other Lesion(s) By Snare Technique | 2.5% | Explore |
| 8 | 45380 | Colonoscopy, Flexible; With Biopsy, Single Or Multiple | 2.4% | Explore |
| 9 | 66984 | Extracapsular Cataract Removal With Insertion Of Intraocular Lens Prosthesis (1 Stage Procedure), Manual Or Mechanical Technique (Eg, Irrigation And Aspiration Or Phacoemulsification); Without Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation | 1.8% | Explore |
| 10 | 51798 | Measurement Of Post-Voiding Residual Urine And/Or Bladder Capacity By Ultrasound, Non-Imaging | 1.7% | Explore |
Fig. 2 Data is from the Definitive Healthcare Atlas All-Payor Claims Dataset for calendar year 2022. Note that CPT Code 36475 (Routine Venipuncture) is not included.
What are the most common outpatient surgical procedures?
CPT Code 11042 comes in first place, accounting for 4.7% of all outpatient surgical procedures done in 2022. This procedure involves the removal of unhealthy or dead tissue surrounding a wound, to give the area the opportunity to heal and reduce the risk of infection.
CPT Code 36591 involves the healthcare provider collecting a blood specimen from a patient who has had a venous access device completely implanted within them in a prior procedure. The procedure accounted for 3.5% of all outpatient surgeries.
In third place is CPT Code 20610, which accounted for 3.4% of all outpatient surgeries performed in 2022. In this procedure, the healthcare provider uses a needle and syringe to inject a drug or remove fluid from within a patient’s joint.
Learn more
Looking for more inpatient or outpatient procedure data? Explore this list of common outpatient surgical procedures or find out which U.S. hospitals see the most patients for surgical care. Healthcare Insights are developed with healthcare commercial intelligence from the Definitive Healthcare platform. Want even more insights? Start a free trial now and get access to the latest healthcare commercial intelligence on hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare providers.
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