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Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a specialized imaging procedure utilized to assess congenital cardiac anomalies. This technique involves the use of a miniature high-frequency ultrasound transducer that is mounted on the tip of a flexible tube, referred to as a probe. The probe is carefully passed through the patient's mouth and advanced into the esophagus, positioning the transducer behind the heart. This strategic placement allows for the effective transmission of ultrasound waves directly into the heart. As the sound waves bounce back to the transducer, they are converted by a computer into detailed images of the heart, which are displayed on a video screen. TEE is particularly advantageous as it provides real-time ultrasound scanning, enabling the visualization of both the heart's structure and its movement during the procedure. The procedure is designed to obtain multiple views by maneuvering the transducer within the esophagus, facilitating a thorough evaluation of the heart's left and right chambers, valves, pericardium, and other critical structures, including the aorta, pulmonary vessels, and vena cava. Additionally, TEE employs selective M-mode recording, also known as T-M mode, which offers specific time-motion information from a stationary beam that is superimposed on the two-dimensional image. In this mode, depth is represented along the vertical axis while time is depicted on the horizontal axis, making it particularly useful for precise cardiac measurements, such as septal wall thickness and valve timing. The use of CPT® Code 93315 is appropriate when the physician conducts probe placement, image acquisition, and provides a written report of the findings. In contrast, CPT® Code 93316 is designated for instances where only the transesophageal probe placement is performed, while CPT® Code 93317 is applicable when only image acquisition and a written report of findings are completed.
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The transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) procedure is indicated for patients with congenital cardiac anomalies. This imaging technique is particularly useful in evaluating structural heart defects and assessing the function of the heart's chambers and valves. The following conditions may warrant the use of TEE:
The transesophageal echocardiography procedure involves several critical steps to ensure accurate imaging and assessment of the heart. The following procedural steps are performed:
Following the transesophageal echocardiography procedure, patients are typically monitored for a short period to ensure there are no immediate complications related to the probe placement. It is common for patients to experience a sore throat or mild discomfort after the procedure due to the insertion of the probe. Patients may be advised to refrain from eating or drinking until the effects of sedation have worn off and the ability to swallow has returned to normal. The physician will review the findings with the patient and discuss any necessary follow-up actions or treatments based on the results of the echocardiography. Additionally, any specific post-procedure care instructions will be provided to ensure a smooth recovery process.
| Short Descr | ECHO TRANSESOPHAGEAL | Medium Descr | ECHO TRANSESOPHAG CONGEN PROBE PLCMT IMGNG I&R | Long Descr | Transesophageal echocardiography for congenital cardiac anomalies; including probe placement, image acquisition, interpretation and report | Status Code | Carriers Price the Code | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 1 - Diagnostic Tests for Radiology Services | Multiple Procedures (51) | 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures 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 | Procedure or Service, Not Discounted when Multiple | 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. | 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. | 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. | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | 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. |
| 1997-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 1997. |
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