Z716 – Marsupialization of Bartholin’s cyst or abscess
OHIP Psychiatric Code — FEMALE GENITAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
Marsupialization of Bartholin's cyst or abscess is a surgical procedure on the vulva and introitus. It involves creating a slit into the cyst or abscess and suturing the edges of the cyst wall to the surrounding skin, creating a permanent open pouch to allow for continuous drainage. This procedure is eligible for both surgical assistant (B suffix) and anaesthetist (C suffix) services, with 6 base units for each as per the Schedule on page .
When to Use
- Use Z716 when performing a formal marsupialization where the cyst wall is sutured to the skin edges, which is distinct from the simple incision and drainage (I&D) described by S706.
- Select Z716 for recurrent Bartholin's cysts where a permanent drainage pouch is clinically indicated to prevent recurrence.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing Z716 when only a simple incision and drainage was performed; if the cyst wall was not sutured to the skin, S706 is the appropriate code.
- Attempting to bill a consultation or office visit code on the same day as Z716 without a distinct, unrelated clinical reason, as the visit is typically considered included in the surgical fee.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the operative report explicitly documents the suturing of the cyst wall to the skin edges to justify the use of Z716 over the lower-valued S706 during an audit.
Effective: April 1, 2026
V. Female Genital Surgical Procedures
FEMALE GENITAL SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Surgical
Female Genital Surgical Procedures, Surgical Assistants' Services, Anaesthesiologists' Services
Female
Ready to bill this code?
SnapBill makes OHIP billing simple — auto-filled codes, validation, and batch submission.