Action verbs should be written in noun form within SNOMED CT descriptions.  This most often means the verb will end with a suffix of –tion, -sion, -ment, -al, -ence, or -ance.

For example,

• • Destruction instead of destroy
  • Incision instead of incise
  • Replacement instead of replace
  • Removal instead of remove
  • Maintenance instead of maintain

However, the root form of the verb may be used when it does not make a word when ending in noun suffixes.

For example,

• • Control
  • Release 
  • Care

Lastly, the verb with a suffix of –ing may be used when the root form of the verb may cause ambiguity in the meaning, i.e. the root form of the verb could also be a physical object.

For example,

• • Wiring instead of wire
  • Suturing instead of suture
  • Splinting instead of splint
  • Mapping instead of map
  • Grafting instead of graft

Exceptions,

Common usage may dictate some exceptions.

For example,

• • Repair instead of repairment

Although ‘repairment’ may be considered a valid word, its use has fallen out of common usage in comparison to ‘repair’. 

Past tense

A past tense verbal phrase should not be used to name a procedure, since it indicates that the procedure was done in the past.

Unacceptable example, 

• • Hand tendon ganglion excised indicates the procedure was done, as a past tense declarative statement. 

However, the following is an acceptable example using a noun phrase,