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The CPT® Code 35103 refers to the surgical procedure for the direct repair of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm or pseudoaneurysm, particularly when there is involvement of the iliac vessels, which include the common, hypogastric, and external iliac arteries. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is characterized by an abnormal enlargement or dilation of the abdominal aorta, which can lead to serious complications if not addressed promptly. The condition may arise from various factors, including arteriosclerosis, mechanical obstructions, or less common causes such as infections or vessel wall abnormalities. A pseudoaneurysm, in contrast, is a hematoma that forms outside the arterial wall and is typically the result of trauma or procedural complications, distinguishing it from a true aneurysm that involves all three layers of the artery wall. During the procedure, a surgical incision is made to access the abdominal aorta, allowing the surgeon to directly repair or excise the aneurysm and insert a graft, which may or may not include a patch graft. This intervention is critical in emergency situations where a ruptured aneurysm poses an immediate risk of significant blood loss. The surgical approach involves careful dissection and clamping of the aorta and iliac arteries to control bleeding, followed by the removal of any thrombus within the aneurysm sac and the placement of a synthetic graft to restore normal blood flow. The procedure is complex and requires meticulous attention to detail to ensure successful outcomes and minimize complications.
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The procedure described by CPT® Code 35103 is indicated for the following conditions:
The surgical procedure for CPT® Code 35103 involves several critical steps to ensure effective repair of the ruptured aneurysm:
Post-procedure care following the surgical repair of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm involves monitoring for complications such as bleeding, infection, or graft failure. Patients are typically observed in a critical care setting initially due to the nature of the emergency procedure. Recovery may include pain management, fluid resuscitation, and monitoring vital signs closely. Follow-up imaging may be required to assess the integrity of the graft and ensure proper healing. Patients are also advised on lifestyle modifications and may require rehabilitation to regain strength and mobility following the surgery.
| Short Descr | REPAIR ARTERY RUPTURE AORTA | Medium Descr | DIR RPR RUPTD ANEURYSM ABDOM AORTA W/ILIAC VSLS | Long Descr | Direct repair of aneurysm, pseudoaneurysm, or excision (partial or total) and graft insertion, with or without patch graft; for ruptured aneurysm, abdominal aorta involving iliac vessels (common, hypogastric, external) | 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) | 1 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures applies. | 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) | P2B - Major procedure, cardiovascular-Aneurysm repair | 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.
| 35572 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 CPT Assistant Article Illustration for Code Harvest of femoropopliteal vein, 1 segment, for vascular reconstruction procedure (eg, aortic, vena caval, coronary, peripheral 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. | 50 | Bilateral procedure: unless otherwise identified in the listings, bilateral procedures that are performed at the same session, should be identified by adding modifier 50 to the appropriate 5 digit code. note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | 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. | 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.) | 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). | 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) | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | 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) | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) |
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| 2013-01-01 | Changed | Medium Descriptor changed. |
| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Short description changed. |
| 2002-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed. |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
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