Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) Descriptions

Hospital Performance Report 2001 - Descriptions of Procedure and Treatment Groups

Code-Based Diagnosis Descriptions

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD):Chronic lung disease where breathing is difficult due to airway narrowing, excess mucus production or inflammation. It is caused most frequently by bronchitis, asthma, or emphysema.
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF): Heart failure occurs when the heart loses its ability to pump enough blood through the body. Heart failure usually develops progressively over time as the heart gradually loses its pumping ability and works less efficiently.
Heart Attack - Medical Management: A heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when there is blockage or obstruction in the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart. This results in damage or death to a part of the heart muscle. Included are heart attack patients who were treated without surgical interventions.
Pneumonia: Simple pneumonia (inflammation of the lung) includes viral and bacterial pneumonia, as well as pleurisy, an inflammation of the membrane surrounding the lungs.
Septicemia: Also know as blood poisoning, is a system-wide infection of the patient's blood. Does not include post-operative or post-injury infections.
Stroke - Hemorrhagic: Stroke is a cardiovascular disease that affects the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain. In hemorrhagic strokes, a blood vessel in the brain breaks or ruptures and causes bleeding (hemorrhage) within or around the brain.
Stroke - Non-hemorrhagic: In ischemic (non-hemorrhagic) strokes, a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain or an artery leading to the brain. This is the most common type of stroke. Transient ischemic attack (temporary stroke symptoms) is not included.

Code-Based Procedure Descriptions

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a bulge in the aorta (the aorta is the main blood vessel coming from the heart that supplies blood to all organs) in the abdomen. Does not include endovascular (minimally invasive graft technique) repairs or ruptured aneurysm repairs.
Gallbladder Removal - Laparoscopic: Cholecystectomy is the operation for removal of the gallbladder. Included are patients who underwent this type of surgery carried out with a laparoscope (microscopic camera) through 3 or 4 small incisions.
Gallbladder Removal - Open: Traditional gallbladder removal surgery that is carried out through an incision in the right side of the upper abdomen.
Colorectal Procedures: The majority of colorectal procedures are performed in relation to the presence of cancer or diverticulitis (inflammation of part of the lower digestive tract). Does not include patients with abdominal trauma.
Heart Attack - Angioplasty/Stent: Treatment (called percutaneous translumial coronary angioplasty or PTCA) of a heart attack using special balloons to open up obstructed arteries and increase blood flow to the heart. Often, a stent (a mesh tube) is inserted in the blocked or narrowed artery to open it wider and prevent renarrowing or recurring blockage. Does not include coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).
Hysterectomy - Abdominal: A hysterectomy is an operation, performed through an abdominal incision, to remove the uterus (womb) and sometimes the ovaries and fallopian tubes. This type of surgery is performed when vaginal or laparoscopic approaches are deemed inappropriate for a variety of conditions including female cancers, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, pelvic trauma, and uterine or vaginal prolapse.
Hysterectomy - Vaginal: Includes hysterectomy through a vaginal approach and those laparoscopically (use of microscopic camera) assisted. Includes hysterectomy performed for a variety of conditions such as female cancers, pelvic trauma, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis.
Prostatectomy - Radical: Radical prostatectomy is the surgical removal of the entire prostate. This type of surgery is usually performed when localized cancer is present.
Prostatectomy - Transurethral: This type of surgery involves the surgical removal of part of the prostate gland and is usually done to relieve urinary symptoms caused by benign (non-cancerous) enlargement of the prostate.

Blood Clot in Lung (DRG 078): Often called a pulmonary embolism, this is a blockage in the lung usually due to a blood clot. May be caused by fat or an air bubble.
Lung Infections, complicated (DRG 079): Infections other than simple pneumonia including tuberculosis, pneumonitis, and certain rare pneumonias.
Lung Cancer (DRG 082): Includes the initial diagnosis, as well as follow-up care, for patients with cancerous and non-cancerous tumors. Does not include chemotherapy.
Vascular Disorders, Except Heart, complicated (DRG 130): Medical treatment for disorders of blood vessels in the head, neck, aorta, upper and lower limbs. Examples include varicose veins, aneurysm, and diabetes-related circulatory disorders. Conditions not included are hypertension and coronary artery disease.
Abnormal Heartbeat, complicated (DRG 138): Abnormal heart rate or rhythm including tachycardia, bradycardia, fibrillation, flutter and heart block. Does not include heart attack, congenital heart defects, or heart valve disorders.
Stomach & Small Intestinal Operations, complicated (DRG 154): Surgical procedures on the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Does not include removal of appendix.
Stomach and Intestinal Bleeding, complicated (DRG 174): Bleeding from stomach or intestinal ulcers, inflammation of the stomach, or inflammation of small sac-like areas in the wall of the colon.
Hip Operations Except Replacement, complicated (DRG 210): Includes surgery for hip fracture. Does not include replacements or amputations.
Diabetes (DRG 294): Includes patients over age 35 hospitalized for control of blood sugar. Conditions include coma, ketoacidosis, and fluid imbalances. Kidney, eye, nervous system, or circulatory complications related to diabetes are not included.
Kidney Failure (DRG 316): Short and long-term kidney (renal) failure due to hypertension, heart disease, or unknown causes. Does not include dialysis or transplants.
Kidney & Urinary Tract Infections, complicated (DRG 320): Acute and chronic infections of the kidney and urinary tract. Does not include urinary stone or urinary symptoms such as frequency, bleeding, or pain.
Poisoning & Toxic Effects of Drugs, complicated (DRG 449): Toxic effects of overdose, wrong substance given or substance taken in error. Medications, non-medical substances such as pestisides, drugs such as ethyl alcohol and heroin, metals, and gases such as carbon monoxide are included. Does not include drug abuse or dependency.