In simple words: This procedure involves a second surgery on a leg artery bypass graft, done more than a month after the first surgery.The surgeon reopens the area to fix problems with the graft, like a blockage or narrowing. They may use a balloon to widen the graft or replace the graft entirely.

This code describes a reoperation on a femoral-popliteal or femoral-distal artery bypass graft (such as anterior tibial, posterior tibial, or peroneal artery), performed more than one month after the original bypass operation. This procedure is typically performed to address issues like stenosis (narrowing) or occlusion (blockage) of the graft, or other complications. The procedure involves accessing the previous graft site, evaluating the condition of the graft and surrounding vessels, and performing necessary repairs or revisions. This may include balloon angioplasty to open a narrowed section of the graft, or complete replacement of the graft.

Example 1: A patient who underwent a femoral-popliteal bypass graft six weeks prior presents with leg pain and decreased pulses. Angiography reveals a stenosis in the graft. The surgeon performs a reoperation using code 35700, performing balloon angioplasty to open the narrowed segment., A patient who had a femoral-anterior tibial bypass graft two months ago develops graft occlusion. The surgeon reoperates, removes the occluded graft, and replaces it with a new graft using code 35700., A patient who underwent a femoral-posterior tibial bypass three months prior experiences wound complications and infection at the graft site.The surgeon performs a reoperation using code 35700 to debride the infected tissue, remove the infected portion of the graft and replace it.

Documentation should clearly indicate the original date of the bypass surgery, the reason for reoperation (e.g., stenosis, occlusion, infection), the operative findings, the procedures performed during the reoperation (e.g., balloon angioplasty, graft replacement), and any complications encountered.