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The procedure described by CPT® Code 33390 refers to a surgical intervention known as aortic valvuloplasty, which is performed through an open chest incision while utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass. The aortic valve, which consists of three cusps or leaflets, serves as the critical outlet valve that regulates blood flow from the left ventricle into the aorta. Various factors such as infection, aging, and congenital defects can lead to the aortic valve becoming stiff and narrowed, a condition known as stenosis, which restricts blood flow. Alternatively, the leaflets may become loose and floppy, resulting in regurgitation, where blood flows back into the ventricle instead of moving forward into the aorta. To access the heart for this procedure, a surgeon typically makes an anterior midline incision in the chest, which involves opening the sternum, or alternatively, an intercostal incision may be made on the left side of the chest between two ribs to provide access. The procedure necessitates the use of cardiopulmonary bypass, which is initiated by placing a venous cannula in the right atrium, vena cava, or femoral vein, and an atrial cannula in the aorta, femoral or axillary artery, or apex of the heart. During the surgery, the heart is cooled, and muscle contractions are temporarily halted, often through the injection of a drug. For the simple valvuloplasty procedure, an incision is made in the heart to expose the aortic valve. If stenosis is present, the surgeon dilates and opens the commissures between the leaflets. Additionally, any calcium deposits or blood clots are removed through debridement or debulking. To address valvular regurgitation, simple commissural resuspension is performed using commissuroplasty techniques. This involves placing mattress sutures into the aorta to close the top 1 cm of the commissures, effectively narrowing the diameter of the valve orifice. This procedure is distinct from complex valvuloplasty, which involves more intricate repairs and modifications to the valve structure. Overall, CPT® Code 33390 encapsulates a critical surgical approach to restoring proper function to the aortic valve, thereby improving blood flow and cardiac efficiency.
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The aortic valvuloplasty procedure, as described by CPT® Code 33390, is indicated for patients experiencing conditions that affect the aortic valve's functionality. These conditions include:
The aortic valvuloplasty procedure involves several critical steps to ensure effective repair of the aortic valve. The following procedural steps are performed:
Post-procedure care following aortic valvuloplasty involves monitoring the patient for any complications and ensuring proper recovery. Patients are typically observed in a recovery unit where vital signs are closely monitored. The presence of drainage tubes allows for the removal of excess fluid from the chest cavity, reducing the risk of complications such as fluid accumulation. Patients may require pain management and will be assessed for any signs of bleeding or infection. Rehabilitation and gradual return to normal activities are encouraged, with follow-up appointments scheduled to evaluate the success of the procedure and the function of the aortic valve.
| Short Descr | VALVULOPLASTY AORTIC VALVE | Medium Descr | VALVULOPLASTY AORTIC VALVE OPEN CARD BYP SIMPLE | Long Descr | Valvuloplasty, aortic valve, open, with cardiopulmonary bypass; simple (ie, valvotomy, debridement, debulking, and/or simple commissural resuspension) | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | 090 - Major Surgery | 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) | 2 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery does not apply to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 1 - Co-surgeons could be paid, though supporting documentation is required... | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Inpatient Procedures, not paid under OPPS | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P2F - Major procedure, cardiovascular-Other | MUE | 1 |
This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.
| 33141 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC C Physician Quality Reporting PUB 100 CPT Assistant Article Transmyocardial laser revascularization, by thoracotomy; performed at the time of other open cardiac procedure(s) (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | 33257 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC C Illustration for Code Operative tissue ablation and reconstruction of atria, performed at the time of other cardiac procedure(s), limited (eg, modified maze procedure) (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | 33259 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC C Illustration for Code Operative tissue ablation and reconstruction of atria, performed at the time of other cardiac procedure(s), extensive (eg, maze procedure), with cardiopulmonary bypass (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | 33530 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC C Physician Quality Reporting CPT Assistant Article Illustration for Code Reoperation, coronary artery bypass procedure or valve procedure, more than 1 month after original operation (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | 34714 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Open femoral artery exposure with creation of conduit for delivery of endovascular prosthesis or for establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass, by groin incision, unilateral (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | 34716 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Open axillary/subclavian artery exposure with creation of conduit for delivery of endovascular prosthesis or for establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass, by infraclavicular or supraclavicular incision, unilateral (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | 34833 | Addon Code Resequenced Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC C CPT Assistant Article Open iliac artery exposure with creation of conduit for delivery of endovascular prosthesis or for establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass, by abdominal or retroperitoneal incision, unilateral (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). | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | 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. | 77 | Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 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). | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | ET | Emergency services | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service |
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