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Official Description

Selective catheter placement, internal carotid artery, unilateral, with angiography of the ipsilateral intracranial carotid circulation and all associated radiological supervision and interpretation, includes angiography of the extracranial carotid and cervicocerebral arch, when performed

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

Selective catheter placement in the internal carotid artery is a specialized medical procedure that involves the insertion of a catheter into the artery to facilitate diagnostic imaging and assessment of the carotid circulation. This procedure is typically performed unilaterally, meaning it targets either the right or left internal carotid artery. The process begins with a percutaneous approach, which is a minimally invasive technique that allows access to the artery through the skin. Common access points for this procedure include the femoral, axillary, brachial, or radial arteries, with the femoral artery being the most frequently used due to its accessibility and the direct route it provides to the aorta. During the procedure, a small incision is made at the chosen insertion site, and an introducer sheath is placed into the artery. A guidewire is then navigated through the vascular system, allowing for the advancement of the catheter into the aortic arch and subsequently into the targeted carotid artery. Once positioned correctly, radiopaque contrast media is injected to enhance the visibility of the blood vessels during imaging. This enables the physician to perform angiography of both the extracranial and intracranial carotid circulation, providing critical information about the blood flow and any potential abnormalities. The procedure also includes comprehensive radiological supervision and interpretation, ensuring that all findings are accurately documented for further analysis and treatment planning.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The selective catheter placement in the internal carotid artery is indicated for various clinical scenarios where detailed imaging of the carotid circulation is necessary. The following conditions may warrant this procedure:

  • Assessment of Carotid Artery Disease - To evaluate for stenosis, occlusion, or other abnormalities in the carotid arteries that may lead to cerebrovascular events.
  • Preoperative Planning - To provide critical information prior to surgical interventions or endovascular procedures involving the carotid arteries.
  • Investigation of Stroke Symptoms - To investigate the underlying causes of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or strokes, particularly when carotid artery involvement is suspected.
  • Evaluation of Intracranial Vascular Conditions - To assess conditions affecting the intracranial circulation, including aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations.

2. Procedure

The procedure for selective catheter placement in the internal carotid artery involves several critical steps to ensure accurate placement and imaging. The following outlines the procedural steps:

  • Step 1: Access Site Preparation - The procedure begins with the selection of an appropriate access site, typically the femoral artery. A small skin incision is made at the chosen site, and an introducer sheath is inserted into the artery to facilitate catheter placement.
  • Step 2: Guidewire Insertion - A guidewire is introduced through the sheath and navigated through the femoral and iliac arteries into the aorta. Under continuous fluoroscopic guidance, the guidewire is advanced along the aorta to a point beyond the left common carotid artery or right innominate artery.
  • Step 3: Catheter Advancement - A catheter is then advanced over the guidewire into the aortic arch and positioned at the left common carotid or right innominate artery. The guidewire is retracted, and the catheter is maneuvered into the desired position within the internal carotid artery.
  • Step 4: Contrast Injection and Imaging - Once the catheter is properly positioned, radiopaque contrast media is injected to visualize the carotid circulation. Angiography is performed to assess both the ipsilateral extracranial and intracranial carotid circulation, including any necessary imaging of the external carotid artery and cervicocerebral arch.
  • Step 5: Completion of the Procedure - After the imaging is completed, the catheter is removed. Hemostasis is achieved by applying pressure to the arteriotomy site or utilizing another closure technique. A written interpretation of the findings is then provided for further evaluation.

3. Post-Procedure

Following the selective catheter placement procedure, patients are typically monitored for any complications, such as bleeding or vascular injury, at the access site. The expected recovery period may vary depending on the individual patient and the complexity of the procedure. Patients are advised to follow specific post-procedure care instructions, which may include activity restrictions and signs of complications to watch for. A follow-up appointment may be scheduled to discuss the findings from the angiography and any further management that may be required based on the results.

Short Descr PLACE CATH CAROTD ART
Medium Descr SLCTV CATH INTRNL CAROTID ART ANGIO INTRCRNL ART
Long Descr Selective catheter placement, internal carotid artery, unilateral, with angiography of the ipsilateral intracranial carotid circulation and all associated radiological supervision and interpretation, includes angiography of the extracranial carotid and cervicocerebral arch, when performed
Status Code Active Code
Global Days 000 - Endoscopic or Minor Procedure
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) 1 - Statutory payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure...
Co-Surgeons (62) 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Team Surgery (66) 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Diagnostic Imaging Family 99 - Concept Does Not Apply
APC Status Indicator T-Packaged Codes
ASC Payment Indicator Packaged service/item; no separate payment made.
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) I4B - Imaging/procedure - other
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 54 - Other vascular catheterization, not heart

This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.

36227 Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Selective catheter placement, external carotid artery, unilateral, with angiography of the ipsilateral external carotid circulation and all associated radiological supervision and interpretation (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
36228 Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Selective catheter placement, each intracranial branch of the internal carotid or vertebral arteries, unilateral, with angiography of the selected vessel circulation and all associated radiological supervision and interpretation (eg, middle cerebral artery, posterior inferior cerebellar artery) (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)
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).
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)
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
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.
X5 Diagnostic services requested by another clinician: for reporting services by a clinician who furnishes care to the patient only as requested by another clinician or subsequent and related services requested by another clinician; this modifier is reported for patient relationships that may not be adequately captured by the above alternative categories; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the radiologist's interpretation of an imaging study requested by another clinician
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
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.
26 Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number.
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).
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.
76 Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
77 Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
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).
AG Primary physician
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
CA Procedure payable only in the inpatient setting when performed emergently on an outpatient who expires prior to admission
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
ET Emergency services
GV Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
GX Notice of liability issued, voluntary under payer policy
GZ Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary
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
Q6 Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area
X4 Episodic/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians who provide focused care on particular types of treatment limited to a defined period and circumstance; the patient has a problem, acute or chronic, that will be treated with surgery, radiation, or some other type of generally time-limited intervention; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the orthopedic surgeon performing a knee replacement and seeing the patient through the postoperative period
XE Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter
XP Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner
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2017-01-01 Changed Moderate (Conscious) Sedation flag removed. See new Moderate Sedation category.
2013-01-01 Added Added
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