Z48.02

Encounter for removal of sutures

Billable FY2026 2025-10-01 → 2026-09-30

Exclusions 6 never code together

Z48code

Excludes1

encounter for follow-up examination after completed treatment (Z08-Z09)Z08-Z09
encounter for aftercare following injury - code to Injury, by site, with appropriate 7th character for subsequent encounter

Excludes2

encounter for attention to artificial openings (Z43.-)Z43.-
encounter for fitting and adjustment of prosthetic and other devices (Z44-Z46)Z44-Z46

Excludes1

Excludes2

Excludes1 — never code together. The excluded condition and this one are mutually exclusive.

Excludes2 — not included here, but the patient may have both. Code both when documented.

Instructional notes 5

Inclusion terms

Inclusion terms

Categories Z40-Z53 are intended for use to indicate a reason for care. They may be used for patients who have already been treated for a disease or injury, but who are receiving aftercare or prophylactic care, or care to consolidate the treatment, or to deal with a residual stateZ40-Z53

Notes

Z codes represent reasons for encounters. A corresponding procedure code must accompany a Z code if a procedure is performed. Categories Z00-Z99 are provided for occasions when circumstances other than a disease, injury or external cause classifiable to categories A00-Y89 are recorded as 'diagnoses' or 'problems'. This can arise in two main ways:Z00-Z99 A00-Y89
(a) When a person who may or may not be sick encounters the health services for some specific purpose, such as to receive limited care or service for a current condition, to donate an organ or tissue, to receive prophylactic vaccination (immunization), or to discuss a problem which is in itself not a disease or injury.
(b) When some circumstance or problem is present which influences the person's health status but is not in itself a current illness or injury.

Index entries leading here 7

Admission (for) — see also Encounter (for)
- removal of
  - staples Z48.02
  - sutures Z48.02
Aftercare Z51.89
- following surgery (for) (on)
  - attention to
    - sutures Z48.02
- involving
  - removal of
    - staples Z48.02
    - sutures Z48.02
Attention (to)
- sutures Z48.02
Checking (of)
- wound Z48.0
Suture
- removal Z48.02
Removal (from) (of)
- staples Z48.02
- suture Z48.02
Wound check Z48.0

Alongside this code 3 same parent — Z48.0

Additional references

AHA Coding Clinic® Licence required

Official coding advice for this code. Published by the American Hospital Association. Not included in this installation.

Maps to no condition category in any loaded model.

Presence is a property of the code. Untick a model to hide it everywhere.

Present FY2024–FY2027.