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Official Description

Transcatheter removal or debulking of intracardiac mass (eg, vegetations, thrombus) via suction (eg, vacuum, aspiration) device, percutaneous approach, with intraoperative reinfusion of aspirated blood, including imaging guidance, when performed

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

Transcatheter removal or debulking of an intracardiac mass is a minimally invasive procedure that employs catheter-based technologies to eliminate harmful materials, such as vegetations or thrombus, from within the heart. This procedure is performed using a percutaneous approach, which means that it is conducted through the skin rather than requiring open surgery. The technique typically involves the use of specialized devices, such as the AngioVac System, which utilizes suction to remove the unwanted mass. During the procedure, an extracorporeal bypass circuit is established, allowing for the safe suctioning of the mass while simultaneously reinfusing the aspirated blood back into the patient. The procedure is generally performed under general anesthesia, ensuring that the patient is completely unconscious and pain-free throughout the process. Additionally, anticoagulation with heparin is administered to prevent clot formation during the procedure. Imaging guidance, including ultrasound and fluoroscopy, is utilized to accurately navigate the catheters to the target area within the heart, ensuring precision and safety. This innovative approach not only minimizes the risks associated with traditional surgical methods but also enhances recovery times for patients.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The transcatheter removal or debulking of an intracardiac mass is indicated for various conditions that involve the presence of detrimental materials within the heart. These indications include:

  • Intracardiac Masses The procedure is performed to remove or debulk masses such as vegetations, which are often associated with infections like endocarditis, or thrombus, which can lead to serious complications such as embolism.

2. Procedure

The procedure for transcatheter removal or debulking of an intracardiac mass involves several critical steps to ensure successful outcomes. The following outlines the procedural steps:

  • Step 1: Anesthesia and Access The procedure begins with the patient being placed under general anesthesia, which includes endotracheal intubation to secure the airway. Access to the venous system is achieved through the left and right internal jugular (IJ) veins, or alternatively, through the left and right common femoral veins, providing flexibility in approach.
  • Step 2: Guidewire Placement A guidewire is inserted into the inferior vena cava to facilitate the introduction of the necessary catheters. This step is crucial for ensuring that the subsequent devices can be accurately navigated to the target area within the heart.
  • Step 3: Sheath Placement Using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for real-time imaging, progressive dilators are utilized to place a 26 French Gore sheath in the right IJ vein for the suctioning cannula. Simultaneously, a 19 French cannula is placed into the left IJ vein for the reinfusion of blood.
  • Step 4: System Priming and Bypass Initiation The suctioning catheter is advanced into the superior vena cava, and the system is primed. Tubings are connected to the pump and filter, and the venovenous bypass circuit is initiated, establishing blood flow through the system.
  • Step 5: Suctioning of the Mass The suctioning cannula is advanced to the target area where the intracardiac mass is located. Once contact is made with the mass, the pump is activated, creating negative pressure that generates a suction vortex. This suction draws the mass into the funnel-like cannula and subsequently into the filter.
  • Step 6: Collection and Reinjection TEE imaging is used to confirm the reduction or removal of the mass or vegetation. The collected material is trapped in the filter chamber, which is then extracted from the system. After the excess filtered blood in the tubing is returned to the venous system, the extracorporeal pump system is turned off.
  • Step 7: Catheter Removal and Hemostasis Finally, the AngioVac catheters are removed, followed by the sheaths, and hemostasis is achieved to ensure that there is no bleeding at the access sites.

3. Post-Procedure

Post-procedure care involves monitoring the patient for any complications that may arise following the removal of the intracardiac mass. Patients are typically observed in a recovery area until they are stable. Expected recovery includes managing any discomfort and ensuring that vital signs remain stable. Follow-up imaging may be necessary to confirm the successful removal of the mass and to assess the heart's function. Additionally, patients may require anticoagulation therapy post-procedure to prevent thrombus formation as they recover.

Short Descr TCAT RMVL/DBLK ICAR MAS PERQ
Medium Descr TCAT RMVL/DEBULK ICAR MASS SUCTION DEVICE PERQ
Long Descr Transcatheter removal or debulking of intracardiac mass (eg, vegetations, thrombus) via suction (eg, vacuum, aspiration) device, percutaneous approach, with intraoperative reinfusion of aspirated blood, including imaging guidance, when performed
Status Code Carriers Price the Code
Global Days YYY - Carrier Determines Whether Global Concept Applies
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 0 - Physician Service Code
Multiple Procedures (51) 2 - Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply.
Bilateral Surgery (50) 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply.
Physician Supervisions 09 - Concept does not apply.
Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure...
Co-Surgeons (62) 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Team Surgery (66) 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Diagnostic Imaging Family 99 - Concept Does Not Apply
APC Status Indicator Hospital Part B services paid through a comprehensive APC
ASC Payment Indicator Device-intensive procedure added to ASC list in CY 2008 or later; paid at adjusted rate.
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) none
MUE 1

This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.

33367 Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC C Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR/TAVI) with prosthetic valve; cardiopulmonary bypass support with percutaneous peripheral arterial and venous cannulation (eg, femoral vessels) (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
33368 Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC C Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR/TAVI) with prosthetic valve; cardiopulmonary bypass support with open peripheral arterial and venous cannulation (eg, femoral, iliac, axillary vessels) (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
33369 Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC C Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR/TAVI) with prosthetic valve; cardiopulmonary bypass support with central arterial and venous cannulation (eg, aorta, right atrium, pulmonary artery) (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
22 Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
51 Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d).
52 Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use).
53 Discontinued procedure: under certain circumstances, the physician or other qualified health care professional may elect to terminate a surgical or diagnostic procedure. due to extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient, it may be necessary to indicate that a surgical or diagnostic procedure was started but discontinued. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 53 to the code reported by the individual for the discontinued procedure. note: this modifier is not used to report the elective cancellation of a procedure prior to the patient's anesthesia induction and/or surgical preparation in the operating suite. for outpatient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (asc) reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use).
62 Two surgeons: when 2 surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct part(s) of a procedure, each surgeon should report his/her distinct operative work by adding modifier 62 to the procedure code and any associated add-on code(s) for that procedure as long as both surgeons continue to work together as primary surgeons. each surgeon should report the co-surgery once using the same procedure code. if additional procedure(s) (including add-on procedure(s) are performed during the same surgical session, separate code(s) may also be reported with modifier 62 added. note: if a co-surgeon acts as an assistant in the performance of additional procedure(s), other than those reported with the modifier 62, during the same surgical session, those services may be reported using separate procedure code(s) with modifier 80 or modifier 82 added, as appropriate.
74 Discontinued out-patient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (asc) procedure after administration of anesthesia: due to extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient, the physician may terminate a surgical or diagnostic procedure after the administration of anesthesia (local, regional block(s), general) or after the procedure was started (incision made, intubation started, scope inserted, etc). under these circumstances, the procedure started but terminated can be reported by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 74. note: the elective cancellation of a service prior to the administration of anesthesia and/or surgical preparation of the patient should not be reported. for physician reporting of a discontinued procedure, see modifier 53.
78 Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, see modifier 76.)
79 Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.)
80 Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s).
82 Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon not available): the unavailability of a qualified resident surgeon is a prerequisite for use of modifier 82 appended to the usual procedure code number(s).
AG Primary physician
AS Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
Q0 Investigational clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study
RI Ramus intermedius coronary artery
RT Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body)
X4 Episodic/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians who provide focused care on particular types of treatment limited to a defined period and circumstance; the patient has a problem, acute or chronic, that will be treated with surgery, radiation, or some other type of generally time-limited intervention; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the orthopedic surgeon performing a knee replacement and seeing the patient through the postoperative period
X5 Diagnostic services requested by another clinician: for reporting services by a clinician who furnishes care to the patient only as requested by another clinician or subsequent and related services requested by another clinician; this modifier is reported for patient relationships that may not be adequately captured by the above alternative categories; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the radiologist's interpretation of an imaging study requested by another clinician
Date
Action
Notes
2022-01-01 Added First appearance in codebook.
2021-07-01 Added Code added.
Code
Description
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