© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
A carotid-brachial bypass graft is a surgical procedure designed to create an alternative pathway for blood flow around a diseased or obstructed segment of the artery. This procedure specifically involves the carotid artery in the neck and the brachial artery in the arm, which may be affected by conditions such as atherosclerosis or other vascular diseases. The surgery typically requires two incisions: one in the neck to access the common carotid artery and another in the arm to access the brachial artery, usually located just above the elbow. During the procedure, soft tissues are carefully dissected to expose these arteries, allowing for the creation of a tunnel that connects the two sites. A vein graft, often harvested from the saphenous vein in the leg, is then used to bypass the obstructed area. The graft is meticulously sutured to both the carotid and brachial arteries, ensuring that blood can flow freely through the newly created pathway. This procedure is critical for restoring adequate blood circulation to the arm and preventing complications associated with arterial blockages.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The carotid-brachial bypass graft procedure is indicated for patients experiencing significant arterial obstruction or disease that affects blood flow between the carotid and brachial arteries. The following conditions may warrant this surgical intervention:
The carotid-brachial bypass graft procedure involves several critical steps to ensure successful grafting and restoration of blood flow. The following outlines the procedural steps:
Post-procedure care for patients undergoing a carotid-brachial bypass graft includes monitoring for any signs of complications, such as infection or graft failure. Patients are typically observed for changes in blood flow and may undergo imaging studies to confirm the success of the graft. Pain management and rehabilitation may be initiated to aid recovery. Follow-up appointments are essential to assess the graft's function and the patient's overall vascular health.
| Short Descr | ART BYP GRFT CAROTID-BRCHIAL | Medium Descr | BYPASS W/VEIN CAROTID-BRACHIAL | Long Descr | Bypass graft, with vein; carotid-brachial | 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) | P1G - Major procedure - Other | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 56 - Other vascular bypass and shunt, not heart |
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. | 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). | 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.) | AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | 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) |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2013-01-01 | Changed | Short Descriptor changed. |
| 2004-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 2004. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.