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Official Description

Selective catheter placement, arterial system; initial third order or more selective abdominal, pelvic, or lower extremity artery branch, within a vascular family

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

A selective catheter placement procedure involves the introduction of a catheter into a specific artery within the abdominal, pelvic, or lower extremity regions of the arterial system. This procedure is categorized as an initial third order or more selective placement, indicating that the catheter is advanced into a branch of the artery that is further down the vascular hierarchy. The process typically begins with the insertion of a catheter through a small incision made over the chosen access point, which is most commonly the femoral artery, although access can also be achieved via an upper extremity artery. The use of a guidewire is essential in this procedure, as it facilitates the navigation of the catheter through the arterial system, allowing the physician to selectively advance the catheter into progressively higher order branches of the vascular family. The ultimate goal is to position the catheter in the highest order branch that requires evaluation, which may involve the use of radiopaque contrast media for imaging purposes. This procedure is critical for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions within the vascular system, enabling detailed examination and treatment of various conditions affecting the arteries in these regions.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The selective catheter placement procedure is indicated for various clinical scenarios where detailed evaluation or intervention within the arterial system is necessary. The following conditions may warrant this procedure:

  • Abdominal Aneurysms - To assess and manage aneurysms located in the abdominal aorta or its branches.
  • Peripheral Artery Disease - For the evaluation of blockages or narrowing in the arteries of the lower extremities.
  • Pelvic Vascular Disorders - To investigate vascular issues affecting the pelvic region, including potential sources of bleeding or ischemia.
  • Preoperative Planning - To provide detailed vascular mapping prior to surgical interventions in the abdominal or pelvic areas.

2. Procedure

The selective catheter placement procedure involves several critical steps to ensure accurate positioning of the catheter within the arterial system. The following procedural steps outline the process:

  • Step 1: Access Site Preparation - A small skin incision is made at the preferred access site, typically the femoral artery, although an upper extremity artery may also be utilized. This incision allows for the introduction of the catheter and associated devices.
  • Step 2: Introducer Sheath Placement - An introducer sheath is inserted into the artery through the incision. This sheath serves as a conduit for the guidewire and catheter, facilitating their advancement into the vascular system.
  • Step 3: Guidewire Insertion - A guidewire is carefully inserted through the introducer sheath. If the right femoral artery is accessed, the guidewire is navigated through the femoral and iliac arteries and into the aorta, providing a pathway for the catheter.
  • Step 4: Catheter Advancement - A catheter is advanced over the guidewire into the aorta. The physician manipulates the guidewire as necessary to ensure proper positioning of the catheter.
  • Step 5: Selective Catheterization - The physician continues to selectively advance the guidewire and catheter through the arterial branches, moving from first order to higher order branches (second, third, and beyond) until the catheter reaches the highest order branch that requires evaluation.
  • Step 6: Contrast Injection - Once the catheter is positioned correctly, the guidewire is removed, and injection of medication and/or radiopaque contrast media is performed as needed to visualize the vascular structures during imaging studies.

3. Post-Procedure

After the selective catheter placement procedure, patients may require monitoring for any potential complications, such as bleeding or hematoma formation at the access site. The physician may provide specific post-procedure care instructions, which could include recommendations for activity restrictions and signs of complications to watch for. Follow-up imaging may be necessary to assess the effectiveness of the procedure and to ensure that the catheter placement has achieved the desired diagnostic or therapeutic outcomes.

Short Descr INS CATH ABD/L-EXT ART 3RD
Medium Descr SLCTV CATHJ 3RD+ ORD SLCTV ABDL PEL/LXTR BRNCH
Long Descr Selective catheter placement, arterial system; initial third order or more selective abdominal, pelvic, or lower extremity artery branch, within a vascular family
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 Items and Services Packaged into APC Rates
ASC Payment Indicator Packaged service/item; no separate payment made.
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P2F - Major procedure, cardiovascular-Other
MUE 3
CCS Clinical Classification 54 - Other vascular catheterization, not heart

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

36248 Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 CPT Assistant Article Illustration for Code Selective catheter placement, arterial system; additional second order, third order, and beyond, abdominal, pelvic, or lower extremity artery branch, within a vascular family (List in addition to code for initial second or third order vessel as appropriate)
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)
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).
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.
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)
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
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).
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
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
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
80 Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s).
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
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.)
Q5 Service furnished under a reciprocal billing 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
GZ Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary
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.)
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
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
FS Split (or shared) evaluation and management visit
GA Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case
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
KX Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met
MH Unknown if ordering professional consulted a clinical decision support mechanism for this service, related information was not provided to the furnishing professional or provider
PD Diagnostic or related non diagnostic item or service provided in a wholly owned or operated entity to a patient who is admitted as an inpatient within 3 days
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
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.
2012-01-01 Changed Description Changed
1992-01-01 Added First appearance in code book in 1992.
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