What type of procedure is coded to the root operation extirpation?

Extirpation refers to the removal of a substance or material from a body part, and it often involves the removal of foreign bodies, abnormal tissue, or calculus. In this context, lithotripsy with the removal of fragments fits the definition perfectly, as the procedure not only breaks up stones but also involves the process of extracting the fragments from the body.

This aligns with the root operation of extirpation since it specifically addresses the removal of a pathological material (in this case, stones or calculi) from a particular organ. The intentional extraction distinguishes it from other procedures that may not involve the removal of material, such as resection, exploration, or transplantation that are defined under other root operations.

Therefore, lithotripsy, which involves both fragmentation and the extraction of stones, is categorized correctly under the root operation of extirpation.