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Official Description

Transcatheter therapy, arterial infusion for thrombolysis other than coronary or intracranial, any method, including radiological supervision and interpretation, initial treatment day

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

Transcatheter therapy for thrombolysis involves the infusion of medication directly into a blood vessel to dissolve blood clots. This specific procedure, identified by CPT® Code 37211, is performed on vessels that are neither coronary nor intracranial. The process begins with the puncture of the skin over the access artery, typically the common femoral artery, although alternative sites such as the axillary and distal brachial arteries may also be utilized. The goal of this therapy is to effectively break down clots that obstruct blood flow, thereby restoring normal circulation. The procedure employs radiological imaging techniques to guide the placement of a catheter into the affected vessel. A guidewire is inserted through the puncture site and navigated to the location of the clot, allowing for precise catheter placement. Once the catheter is positioned at the site of thrombosis, a thrombolytic agent is infused over a period of time, which may extend across multiple days, to facilitate the dissolution of the clot. This procedure is comprehensive, as it includes not only the infusion of the thrombolytic agent but also the necessary radiological supervision and interpretation to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment and to make any required adjustments to the catheter placement during the procedure.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The transcatheter therapy for thrombolysis, as described by CPT® Code 37211, is indicated for the treatment of blood clots located in arteries other than those in the coronary or intracranial regions. This procedure is typically performed in cases where there is a significant obstruction in blood flow due to thrombosis, which may lead to complications such as ischemia or tissue necrosis if not addressed promptly.

  • Arterial Thrombosis The presence of a blood clot in an artery that impedes normal blood flow.
  • Ischemia A condition resulting from insufficient blood supply to tissues, often due to arterial blockage.
  • Peripheral Vascular Disease A condition characterized by narrowed arteries reducing blood flow to the limbs, which may necessitate thrombolytic therapy.

2. Procedure

The procedure for transcatheter therapy for thrombolysis involves several critical steps to ensure effective treatment of the thrombus.

  • Step 1: Access Site Preparation The procedure begins with the preparation of the access site, typically the common femoral artery. The skin is cleansed and anesthetized to minimize discomfort during the puncture.
  • Step 2: Arterial Puncture A needle is used to puncture the skin and access the artery. This step is crucial as it allows for the introduction of the guidewire and catheter into the vascular system.
  • Step 3: Guidewire Insertion A guidewire is carefully inserted through the needle into the access vessel. This guidewire serves as a pathway for the subsequent catheter placement and is advanced to the site of the obstructing blood clot.
  • Step 4: Catheter Advancement An infusion catheter is then advanced over the guidewire to the target site of the thrombus. Once the catheter is in place, the guidewire is removed, and the catheter is secured to ensure stability during the infusion process.
  • Step 5: Thrombolytic Infusion The thrombolytic agent is infused through the catheter directly at the site of the clot. This infusion may take several hours and is monitored closely to assess its effectiveness in breaking down the clot.
  • Step 6: Radiological Supervision Throughout the procedure, radiological imaging is utilized to guide the catheter placement and to monitor the progress of the thrombolytic therapy. This includes the interpretation of images to verify the effectiveness of the treatment and to make any necessary adjustments to the catheter position.

3. Post-Procedure

After the completion of the transcatheter therapy for thrombolysis, patients are typically monitored for any potential complications, such as bleeding at the access site or adverse reactions to the thrombolytic agent. The recovery process may vary depending on the extent of the thrombolysis and the patient's overall health. Follow-up imaging may be required to assess the effectiveness of the treatment and to ensure that blood flow has been restored. Patients may need to adhere to specific post-procedure care instructions, including activity restrictions and medication management, to support recovery and prevent further thrombotic events.

Short Descr THROMBOLYTIC ART THERAPY
Medium Descr THROMBOLYSIS ARTERIAL INFUSION ICRA RS&I INIT TX
Long Descr Transcatheter therapy, arterial infusion for thrombolysis other than coronary or intracranial, any method, including radiological supervision and interpretation, initial treatment day
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) 0 - 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 Hospital Part B services paid through a comprehensive APC
ASC Payment Indicator Device-intensive procedure added to ASC list in CY 2008 or later; paid at adjusted rate.
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P1G - Major 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.

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).
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)
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
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.
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.
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.
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
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).
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.
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
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
GZ Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary
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
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
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
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2017-01-01 Changed Moderate (Conscious) Sedation flag removed. See new Moderate Sedation category.
2016-01-01 Changed Description Changed
2013-01-01 Added Added
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