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Official Description

Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, tibial/peroneal artery, unilateral, each additional vessel; with atherectomy, includes angioplasty within the same vessel, when performed (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

The CPT® Code 37233 refers to the procedure of revascularization performed on an additional ipsilateral (same side) occluded or stenosed tibial or peroneal artery. This procedure can be conducted through either an open or percutaneous approach and involves the use of atherectomy, which is a technique that removes plaque from the arterial wall. The procedure also includes angioplasty within the same vessel when performed. The goal of this intervention is to restore blood flow to the affected artery, thereby improving circulation and alleviating symptoms associated with arterial occlusion or stenosis. During the procedure, a catheter with a balloon tip is advanced to the site of the occlusion, where it is inflated to compress the plaque against the artery wall. This may be done multiple times to achieve optimal results. Alternatively, atherectomy may be utilized, which involves a specialized catheter that shaves plaque from the artery. The procedure may also involve the placement of a stent to maintain the artery's patency. It is important to note that this code is used in conjunction with the primary procedure code and is listed separately for billing purposes.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The procedure associated with CPT® Code 37233 is indicated for patients presenting with occlusion or stenosis of the tibial or peroneal arteries. These conditions may lead to reduced blood flow, resulting in symptoms such as claudication, pain, or ischemia in the lower extremities. The specific indications for performing this procedure include:

  • Occluded Tibial Artery The presence of a blockage in the tibial artery that impairs blood flow.
  • Stenosed Peroneal Artery Narrowing of the peroneal artery that restricts blood flow to the lower leg.
  • Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Patients exhibiting symptoms related to inadequate blood supply due to arterial blockages.

2. Procedure

The procedure for CPT® Code 37233 involves several key steps to effectively revascularize the affected artery. The steps are as follows:

  • Step 1: Accessing the Artery The physician begins by accessing the affected tibial or peroneal artery, typically through a percutaneous approach. A catheter is introduced via a small incision, allowing for the advancement of instruments to the site of the occlusion.
  • Step 2: Advancing the Catheter A catheter with a balloon tip is advanced over a guidewire to the location of the occluded artery. This step is crucial for positioning the catheter accurately at the site of the blockage.
  • Step 3: Performing Angioplasty Once the catheter is in place, the balloon is inflated to compress the plaque against the arterial wall. This inflation may be repeated several times to achieve the desired level of arterial patency.
  • Step 4: Conducting Atherectomy (if necessary) If atherectomy is indicated, a specialized balloon catheter with a cutting piston is utilized. The cutting piston shaves plaque from the arterial wall, and the debris is collected within the device for removal upon completion of the procedure.
  • Step 5: Completion Angiography After the revascularization steps, the angiography catheter is advanced over the guidewire, and the guidewire is withdrawn. Contrast material is injected to perform a completion angiography, ensuring that the artery is patent and blood flow is restored.
  • Step 6: Stent Placement (if required) If necessary, a stent delivery catheter is advanced to the lesion site. The stent is positioned and deployed to maintain the artery's patency. Following deployment, a balloon catheter may be used again to inflate and secure the stent in place.

3. Post-Procedure

Post-procedure care for patients undergoing the revascularization procedure coded under CPT® 37233 includes monitoring for complications such as bleeding, infection, or thrombosis at the access site. Patients may be advised to rest and limit physical activity for a specified period to promote healing. Follow-up appointments are typically scheduled to assess the success of the procedure and to monitor the patient's recovery and vascular health. Additionally, the physician may provide guidelines on medication management, including antiplatelet therapy, to prevent future occlusions.

Short Descr TIBPER REVASC W/ATHER ADD-ON
Medium Descr REVSC OPN/PRQ TIB/PERO W/ATHRC/ANGIOP UNI EA VSL
Long Descr Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, tibial/peroneal artery, unilateral, each additional vessel; with atherectomy, includes angioplasty within the same vessel, when performed (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
Status Code Active Code
Global Days ZZZ - Code Related to Another Service
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 0 - Physician Service Code
Multiple Procedures (51) 0 - No 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 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 2
CCS Clinical Classification 61 - Other OR procedures on vessels other than head and neck

This is an add-on code that must be used in conjunction with one of these primary codes.

37229 MPFS Status: Active Code APC J1 ASC J8 Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, tibial, peroneal artery, unilateral, initial vessel; with atherectomy, includes angioplasty within the same vessel, when performed
37231 MPFS Status: Active Code APC J1 ASC J8 Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, tibial, peroneal artery, unilateral, initial vessel; with transluminal stent placement(s) and atherectomy, includes angioplasty within the same vessel, when performed
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)
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)
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.
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
80 Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s).
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.
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).
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.
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.)
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
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
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
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
SG Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service
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
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
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2017-01-01 Changed Moderate (Conscious) Sedation flag removed. See new Moderate Sedation category.
2011-01-01 Added Added
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