© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
The CPT® Code 33944 refers to the backbench standard preparation of a cadaver donor heart allograft prior to transplantation. This procedure involves meticulous dissection of the heart allograft from the surrounding soft tissues to prepare critical anatomical structures, including the aorta, superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, pulmonary artery, and left atrium, for implantation into the recipient. The process begins with the careful removal of the heart allograft from its sterile container, ensuring that it is placed on a sterile table to maintain a sterile environment. The heart is kept on ice and continuously bathed in a cold preservation solution to preserve its viability for transplantation. During the preparation, the external surface of the heart is thoroughly inspected, and the coronary arteries are palpated to assess their condition. If any repairs are necessary, these are performed as a separately reportable procedure, ensuring that the allograft is in optimal condition for implantation. The aorta is also inspected, with particular attention given to identifying and repairing or excising the cannulation site. The superior vena cava is examined, and if the azygos vein orifice is present, it may be excised or oversewn as needed. Any thrombus found during the inspection is removed and sent for culture to rule out any potential complications. Further evaluation of the inferior vena cava includes measuring the distance between the division of the vein and the coronary sinus. The pulmonary artery is separated from the aorta, and the pulmonary valve is inspected for any abnormalities. The pulmonary vein orifices are joined to ensure proper anatomical alignment. The mitral valve and atrial septum are also inspected, and any noted defects are addressed in a separately reportable procedure. Excess left atrial tissue is excised, and a left atrial cuff is created to facilitate a secure connection during transplantation. The aorta is trimmed, and the aortic valve is inspected to ensure its functionality. Additionally, the left atrial appendage is examined, and the amputation site is oversewn as necessary to prevent complications. Finally, the heart is perfused with cardioplegia solution as needed to protect the myocardial tissue during the transplantation process. The allograft is then wrapped in an iced pad, placed in a basin, and maintained in cold saline until the transplantation procedure begins, ensuring that the heart remains in optimal condition for successful implantation into the recipient.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The procedure described by CPT® Code 33944 is indicated for the preparation of a cadaver donor heart allograft prior to transplantation. This preparation is essential for ensuring that the heart is in optimal condition for implantation into a recipient. The indications for this procedure include:
The procedure for the backbench standard preparation of a cadaver donor heart allograft involves several critical steps to ensure the heart is ready for transplantation. Each step is performed with precision to maintain the integrity and viability of the allograft.
Post-procedure care following the preparation of the heart allograft involves maintaining the heart in a cold environment until it is ready for transplantation. The heart must be kept in cold saline and wrapped in an iced pad to preserve its viability. Continuous monitoring of the heart's condition is essential to ensure that it remains suitable for implantation. Once the transplantation procedure begins, the heart will be carefully implanted into the recipient, and further post-operative care will be required to monitor the recipient's recovery and the function of the transplanted heart.
| Short Descr | PREPARE DONOR HEART | Medium Descr | BKBENCH PREPJ CADAVER DONOR HEART ALLOGRAFT | Long Descr | Backbench standard preparation of cadaver donor heart allograft prior to transplantation, including dissection of allograft from surrounding soft tissues to prepare aorta, superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, pulmonary artery, and left atrium for implantation | Status Code | Carriers Price the Code | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | 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) | P1G - Major procedure - Other | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 176 - Other organ transplantation |
| 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). | 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). | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | 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. | 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). | AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2017-01-01 | Changed | Guidelines changed. |
| 2005-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 2005. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.