The data element ORPROC indicates whether a major operating room procedure was reported on the discharge record. Each ICD-9-CM procedure code on the record is classified into one of four broad categories:

• Minor Diagnostic: Non-operating room procedures that are diagnostic (e.g., 87.03 CT scan of head)
• Minor Therapeutic - Non-operating room procedures that are therapeutic (e.g., 02.41 Irrigate ventricular shunt)
• Major Diagnostic - All procedures considered valid operating room procedures by the Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) grouper and that are performed for diagnostic reasons (e.g., 01.14 Open brain biopsy)
• Major Therapeutic - All procedures considered valid operating room procedures by the Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) grouper and that are performed for therapeutic reasons (e.g., 39.24 Aorta-renal bypass).

The procedure class of each procedure is available in the PCLASSn data elements. If at least one major diagnostic or major therapeutic procedure is included on the record, then ORPROC is set to 1.

More information on Procedure Class is available under Tools & Software on the HCUP-US website.