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The CPT® Code 33883 refers to the placement of a proximal extension prosthesis specifically for the endovascular repair of the descending thoracic aorta. This procedure is indicated for various conditions affecting the aorta, including aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, dissections, penetrating ulcers, intramural hematomas, or traumatic disruptions. The endovascular approach involves accessing the aorta through a puncture in an artery, typically the femoral or iliac artery, allowing for the insertion of a flexible guidewire. This guidewire is navigated retrograde into the ascending aorta, often with the assistance of fluoroscopic guidance, which is a separate reportable service. In some cases, access through the brachial artery may also be necessary to facilitate the placement of the proximal extension components. Once access is established, a second guidewire is introduced through the contralateral femoral or iliac artery, and a sheath is placed to aid in the procedure. An aortogram is performed to assess the proximal aspect of the aneurysm, and measurements are taken using an ultrasound probe to determine the appropriate size for the stent-graft extension prosthesis. The procedure involves careful manipulation of the stent-graft into position, followed by verification of its placement through another aortogram. The deployment of the stent-graft extension prosthesis is critical, as it must be securely attached to the aorta to ensure proper sealing and exclusion of the defect. The procedure concludes with additional imaging to confirm the successful exclusion of the thoracic aorta defect and to check for any potential leakage.
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The placement of a proximal extension prosthesis for endovascular repair of the descending thoracic aorta is indicated for the following conditions:
The procedure for the placement of a proximal extension prosthesis involves several critical steps:
After the placement of the proximal extension prosthesis, it is essential to conduct another aortogram to verify the complete exclusion of the defect in the thoracic aorta and to check for any potential leakage. Post-procedure care may include monitoring the patient for any signs of complications, ensuring proper recovery, and following up with imaging studies as needed to assess the integrity of the repair.
| Short Descr | INSERT ENDOVASC PROSTH TAA | Medium Descr | PLMT PROX XTN PROSTH EVASC RPR DTA 1ST XTN | Long Descr | Placement of proximal extension prosthesis for endovascular repair of descending thoracic aorta (eg, aneurysm, pseudoaneurysm, dissection, penetrating ulcer, intramural hematoma, or traumatic disruption); initial extension | 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) | 2 - Co-surgeons permitted and no documentation required if the two- specialty requirement is met. | 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) | P1G - Major procedure - Other | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 52 - Aortic resection, replacement or anastomosis |
This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.
| 33884 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC C CPT Assistant Article Placement of proximal extension prosthesis for endovascular repair of descending thoracic aorta (eg, aneurysm, pseudoaneurysm, dissection, penetrating ulcer, intramural hematoma, or traumatic disruption); each additional proximal extension (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | 34713 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Percutaneous access and closure of femoral artery for delivery of endograft through a large sheath (12 French or larger), including ultrasound guidance, when performed, unilateral (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) | 34715 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Open axillary/subclavian artery exposure for delivery of endovascular prosthesis by infraclavicular or supraclavicular 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) | 34812 | Addon Code Resequenced Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC C CPT Assistant Article Open femoral artery exposure for delivery of endovascular prosthesis, by groin incision, unilateral (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | 34820 | Addon Code Resequenced Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC C CPT Assistant Article Open iliac artery exposure for delivery of endovascular prosthesis or iliac occlusion during endovascular therapy, by abdominal or retroperitoneal 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) | 34834 | Addon Code Resequenced Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC C CPT Assistant Article Open brachial artery exposure for delivery of endovascular prosthesis, unilateral (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | 37252 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Intravascular ultrasound (noncoronary vessel) during diagnostic evaluation and/or therapeutic intervention, including radiological supervision and interpretation; initial noncoronary vessel (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | 37253 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Intravascular ultrasound (noncoronary vessel) during diagnostic evaluation and/or therapeutic intervention, including radiological supervision and interpretation; each additional noncoronary vessel (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). | 58 | Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78. | 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. | 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 | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | Q0 | Investigational clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | 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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| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Short description changed. |
| 2006-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 2006. |
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