© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
An open revision of a lower extremity arterial bypass, as described by CPT® Code 35879, involves a surgical procedure aimed at correcting issues that may arise in a previously established arterial bypass graft. This procedure is specifically performed without thrombectomy, which means that the removal of a blood clot is not part of this operation. Instead, vein patch angioplasty is utilized to address complications such as stenosis, which is a narrowing of the graft, inflow artery, or outflow artery that can lead to reduced blood flow and potential graft failure. The procedure begins with an incision made over the affected area of the bypass graft, allowing the surgeon to access and expose the graft. During the operation, vessel loops are strategically placed to control blood flow, ensuring a clear working area. A segment of vein, typically harvested from the saphenous vein, is prepared to create a patch that will be used to augment the narrowed segment of the graft. This patch is then sutured into place, effectively increasing the diameter of the stenosed area and improving blood flow through the graft. Following the completion of the patching, vessel loops are released, and a completion angiography is performed to confirm that the revised segment of the arterial graft is patent, meaning it is open and functioning properly. This procedure is critical for maintaining the patency of arterial bypass grafts and ensuring adequate blood supply to the lower extremities.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The procedure described by CPT® Code 35879 is indicated for patients who have developed stenosis in a previously placed lower extremity arterial bypass graft. Stenosis can lead to reduced blood flow and may result in graft failure if not addressed. The following conditions may warrant the performance of this procedure:
The procedure for CPT® Code 35879 involves several critical steps to ensure the successful revision of the arterial bypass graft:
After the completion of the procedure, patients may require monitoring for any signs of complications, such as bleeding or infection at the incision site. Recovery may involve pain management and gradual mobilization to restore normal function. Follow-up appointments are essential to assess the patency of the graft and ensure that blood flow is adequate. Additional imaging studies may be performed to evaluate the success of the revision and monitor for any recurrence of stenosis.
| Short Descr | REVISE GRAFT W/VEIN | Medium Descr | REVJ LXTR ARTL BYP OPN VEIN PATCH ANGIOP | Long Descr | Revision, lower extremity arterial bypass, without thrombectomy, open; with vein patch angioplasty | 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 | Hospital Part B services paid through a comprehensive APC | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P2F - Major procedure, cardiovascular-Other | MUE | 2 | CCS Clinical Classification | 61 - Other OR procedures on vessels other than head and neck |
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). | 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). | 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 | 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) | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | 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 |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2000-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 2000. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.