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Official Description

Percutaneous transcatheter closure of a congenital ventricular septal defect with implant

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

The procedure described by CPT® Code 93581 involves the percutaneous transcatheter closure of a congenital ventricular septal defect (VSD) using an implant. A VSD is a congenital heart defect characterized by an abnormal opening in the ventricular septum, which separates the heart's left and right ventricles. This defect can lead to significant hemodynamic changes and complications if not addressed. The closure procedure is performed percutaneously, meaning it is done through the skin without the need for open-heart surgery. Access is typically gained through the femoral vein and artery, although additional access may be necessary depending on the specific characteristics of the defect. The procedure involves several critical steps, including catheterization of the heart, sizing of the defect, and the precise placement of an implant device to effectively close the VSD. This minimally invasive approach aims to restore normal blood flow and prevent complications associated with the defect, thereby improving the patient's overall cardiac function and health.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The percutaneous transcatheter closure of a congenital ventricular septal defect (VSD) is indicated for patients who present with the following conditions:

  • Congenital Ventricular Septal Defect - A defect characterized by an abnormal opening in the ventricular septum, which can lead to increased blood flow to the lungs and heart failure if left untreated.
  • Hemodynamic Compromise - Patients exhibiting signs of heart failure or other complications due to the presence of a significant VSD.
  • Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure - Symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, or poor growth in pediatric patients that may indicate the need for closure of the defect.

2. Procedure

The procedure for the percutaneous transcatheter closure of a congenital ventricular septal defect involves several critical steps:

  • Access Preparation - The skin over the access vessels, typically the femoral vein and artery, is prepped and cleaned to reduce the risk of infection. A needle is used to puncture the vessels, and sheaths are placed to facilitate the introduction of guidewires and catheters.
  • Guidewire Insertion - Guidewires are inserted through the sheaths and advanced from the access vessels into the heart. This step is crucial for the subsequent advancement of catheters.
  • Catheter Advancement - Catheters are advanced over the guidewires into the heart chambers. A right and left heart catheterization is performed to assess the heart's anatomy and function.
  • Crossing the VSD - The closure of the VSD requires crossing the defect, which is typically done from the left ventricle to the right ventricle. A guidewire is advanced through the catheter across the defect and into the right ventricle, and then into the pulmonary artery or right atrium.
  • Angiography - An angiography catheter is advanced over the guidewire, and contrast material is injected to visualize the VSD through angiography, allowing for assessment of the defect's size and location.
  • Defect Sizing - A sizing balloon catheter is positioned across the defect and inflated to determine the stretched diameter of the VSD. This measurement is critical for selecting the appropriate implant size.
  • Pressure and Saturation Assessment - Intracardiac pressures and oxygen saturation levels may be obtained while occluding the defect to ensure that the closure will be tolerated by the patient.
  • Implant Device Placement - The sizing balloon catheter is exchanged for the implant device, which is then positioned in the defect. The placement is verified using echocardiography.
  • Deployment of the Implant - The implant device is deployed to close the VSD, and its position is checked again using echocardiography and/or angiography to confirm successful closure.

3. Post-Procedure

After the procedure, patients are typically monitored for any immediate complications, such as bleeding or arrhythmias. Follow-up echocardiography may be performed to assess the position and function of the implant device. Patients may be advised on activity restrictions and follow-up appointments to ensure proper healing and to monitor for any potential late complications related to the closure of the VSD.

Short Descr TRANSCATH CLOSURE OF VSD
Medium Descr PRQ TCAT CLSR CGEN VENTR SEPTAL DFCT W/IMPLT
Long Descr Percutaneous transcatheter closure of a congenital ventricular septal defect with implant
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) 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 Hospital Part B services paid through a comprehensive APC
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P2F - Major procedure, cardiovascular-Other
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 49 - Other OR heart procedures

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

93463 Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N Pharmacologic agent administration (eg, inhaled nitric oxide, intravenous infusion of nitroprusside, dobutamine, milrinone, or other agent) including assessing hemodynamic measurements before, during, after and repeat pharmacologic agent administration, when performed (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
93568 Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Injection procedure during cardiac catheterization including imaging supervision, interpretation, and report; for nonselective pulmonary arterial angiography (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
93569 Add-on Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N Injection procedure during cardiac catheterization including imaging supervision, interpretation, and report; for selective pulmonary arterial angiography, unilateral (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
93573 Add-on Code Resequenced Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N Injection procedure during cardiac catheterization including imaging supervision, interpretation, and report; for selective pulmonary arterial angiography, bilateral (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
93574 Add-on Code Resequenced Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N Injection procedure during cardiac catheterization including imaging supervision, interpretation, and report; for selective pulmonary venous angiography of each distinct pulmonary vein during cardiac catheterization (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
93575 Add-on Code Resequenced Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N Injection procedure during cardiac catheterization including imaging supervision, interpretation, and report; for selective pulmonary angiography of major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs) arising off the aorta or its systemic branches, during cardiac catheterization for congenital heart defects, each distinct vessel (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
93662 Addon Code MPFS Status: Carrier Priced APC N PUB 100 CPT Assistant Article Intracardiac echocardiography during therapeutic/diagnostic intervention, including imaging supervision and interpretation (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
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.
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).
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.
62 Two surgeons: when 2 surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct part(s) of a procedure, each surgeon should report his/her distinct operative work by adding modifier 62 to the procedure code and any associated add-on code(s) for that procedure as long as both surgeons continue to work together as primary surgeons. each surgeon should report the co-surgery once using the same procedure code. if additional procedure(s) (including add-on procedure(s) are performed during the same surgical session, separate code(s) may also be reported with modifier 62 added. note: if a co-surgeon acts as an assistant in the performance of additional procedure(s), other than those reported with the modifier 62, during the same surgical session, those services may be reported using separate procedure code(s) with modifier 80 or modifier 82 added, as appropriate.
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.)
80 Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s).
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
Date
Action
Notes
2011-01-01 Changed Guideline information changed.
2003-01-01 Added First appearance in code book in 2003.
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