© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a specialized imaging technique that provides detailed views of the heart's structure and function. This procedure utilizes a miniature high-frequency ultrasound transducer, which is mounted on the tip of a flexible tube or probe. The probe is carefully inserted through the mouth and advanced into the esophagus, allowing it to be positioned directly behind the heart. This proximity enables the transducer to emit ultrasound waves that penetrate the heart tissue. The reflected sound waves are captured by the transducer and processed by a computer, resulting in real-time images of the heart displayed on a video screen. TEE is particularly valuable for obtaining comprehensive evaluations of both the left and right heart chambers, heart valves, the pericardium, and other critical structures such as the aorta, pulmonary vessels, and vena cava. The procedure can also include selective M-mode recording, which provides specific time-motion information superimposed on the two-dimensional images. This M-mode technique is primarily utilized for precise cardiac measurements, such as assessing septal wall thickness and timing of valve movements. It is important to note that CPT® Code 93314 is specifically used when the procedure involves only image acquisition and the generation of a written report of findings, without the physician performing probe placement or image acquisition.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) procedure is indicated for various clinical scenarios where detailed cardiac imaging is necessary. The following conditions may warrant the use of TEE:
The transesophageal echocardiography procedure involves several key steps to ensure accurate imaging and assessment of the heart. The following procedural steps are typically followed:
After the transesophageal echocardiography procedure, the patient is monitored until the effects of sedation wear off. It is common for patients to experience a sore throat or mild discomfort following the procedure, which typically resolves quickly. Patients are advised to refrain from eating or drinking until they have fully recovered from sedation and can swallow safely. The physician will discuss the findings from the echocardiography report with the patient and may recommend further diagnostic tests or treatment options based on the results. Follow-up appointments may be scheduled to monitor the patient's condition and response to any interventions.
| Short Descr | ECHO TRANSESOPHAGEAL | Medium Descr | ECHO TRANSESOPHAG R-T 2D IMG ACQUISJ I&R ONLY | Long Descr | Echocardiography, transesophageal, real-time with image documentation (2D) (with or without M-mode recording); image acquisition, interpretation and report only | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 1 - Diagnostic Tests for Radiology Services | Multiple Procedures (51) | 6 - Special payment adjustment rules on the technical component (TC) of multiple diagnostic cardiovascular services apply... | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | 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 | Type of Service (TOS) | 5 - Diagnostic Laboratory | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | I3C - Echography/ultrasonography - heart | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 193 - Diagnostic ultrasound of heart (echocardiogram) |
This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.
| 93319 | Add-on Code Resequenced Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N 3D echocardiographic imaging and postprocessing during transesophageal echocardiography, or during transthoracic echocardiography for congenital cardiac anomalies, for the assessment of cardiac structure(s) (eg, cardiac chambers and valves, left atrial appendage, interatrial septum, interventricular septum) and function, when performed (List separately in addition to code for echocardiographic imaging) | 93320 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N PUB 100 CPT Assistant Article Doppler echocardiography, pulsed wave and/or continuous wave with spectral display (List separately in addition to codes for echocardiographic imaging); complete | 93321 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N PUB 100 CPT Assistant Article Doppler echocardiography, pulsed wave and/or continuous wave with spectral display (List separately in addition to codes for echocardiographic imaging); follow-up or limited study (List separately in addition to codes for echocardiographic imaging) | 93325 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N PUB 100 CPT Assistant Article Doppler echocardiography color flow velocity mapping (List separately in addition to codes for echocardiography) |
| 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. | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service | 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. | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | 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. | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | 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). | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | 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). | 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. | 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.) | AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | MG | The order for this service does not have applicable appropriate use criteria in the qualified clinical decision support mechanism consulted by the ordering professional | Q0 | Investigational 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 | TC | Technical component; under certain circumstances, a charge may be made for the technical component alone; under those circumstances the technical component charge is identified by adding modifier 'tc' to the usual procedure number; technical component charges are institutional charges and not billed separately by physicians; however, portable x-ray suppliers only bill for technical component and should utilize modifier tc; the charge data from portable x-ray suppliers will then be used to build customary and prevailing profiles | 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 |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2017-01-01 | Changed | Moderate (Conscious) Sedation flag removed. See new Moderate Sedation category. |
| 2009-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed. |
| 1993-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 1993. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.