Z48.03 Encounter for change or removal of drains

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026. Exempt from present-on-admission (POA) reporting.

Applies from Z48 Encounter for other postprocedural aftercare

Excludes1 (never code together)

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

Excludes2 (not included here)

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

Applies from Z48.0 Encounter for attention to dressings, sutures and drains

Excludes1 (never code together)

• encounter for planned postprocedural wound closure (Z48.1)

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 949-950 in MDC 23.

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• V58.49 Other specified aftercare following surgery (approximate)

Code annotations containing back-references to Z48.03

Back-references to Z48.0

• Type 1 Excludes: Z48.1 Encounter for planned postprocedural wound closure ("encounter for attention to dressings and sutures (Z48.0-)")

Back-references to Z48

• Type 1 Excludes: Z08 Encounter for follow-up examination after completed treatment for malignant neoplasm ("aftercare following medical care (Z43-Z49, Z51)")
• Type 1 Excludes: Z09 Encounter for follow-up examination after completed treatment for conditions other than malignant neoplasm ("aftercare following medical care (Z43-Z49, Z51)")
• Type 2 Excludes: Z98 Other postprocedural states ("aftercare (Z43-Z49, Z51)")

Diagnosis Index entries for Z48.03

• Admission (for) › removal of › drains
• Aftercare › following surgery (for) (on) › attention to › drains
• Aftercare › involving › removal of › drains
• Removal (from) (of) › drains

Nearby codes

• Z48 Encounter for other postprocedural aftercare
• Z48.0 Encounter for attention to dressings, sutures and drains
• Z48.00 Encounter for change or removal of nonsurgical wound dressing
• Z48.01 Encounter for change or removal of surgical wound dressing
• Z48.02 Encounter for removal of sutures
• Z48.03 Encounter for change or removal of drains (this code)
• Z48.1 Encounter for planned postprocedural wound closure
• Z48.2 Encounter for aftercare following organ transplant
• Z48.21 Encounter for aftercare following heart transplant
• Z48.22 Encounter for aftercare following kidney transplant
• Z48.23 Encounter for aftercare following liver transplant