2025 CPT code 35903
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Cardiovascular System Surgery Feed
Excision of an infected graft in an extremity.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the circumstances of the procedure (e.g., 51 for multiple procedures, 52 for reduced services, 22 for increased procedural services). Consult the CPT manual and NCCI edits.
Surgical excision of an infected graft is medically necessary to prevent sepsis, limb loss, or death.The extent of the excision is determined based on the location and severity of the infection.
The vascular surgeon or appropriately qualified physician is responsible for performing the excision of the infected graft, ensuring hemostasis, and repairing the vessel or site. Postoperative care may also fall under the surgeon's responsibility.
In simple words: The doctor removes an infected, artificial blood vessel in the arm or leg.This involves cutting out the infected part, cleaning the area, and stitching it up. A drain might be placed to help with healing.
This CPT code 35903 describes the surgical excision of an infected arteriovenous graft or bypass graft located in an extremity (arm or leg). The procedure involves accessing the graft, excising the infected tissue, and repairing the site with layered sutures.Drainage tubes may be placed.If a graft replacement is performed, that should be coded separately.
Example 1: A 65-year-old male with a history of peripheral artery disease and a previous femoral-popliteal bypass graft presents with localized pain, erythema, and purulent drainage at the graft site.The surgeon performs excision of the infected segment of the graft., A 72-year-old female with an arteriovenous fistula in her forearm for hemodialysis develops an infection.The infected portion of the fistula is surgically excised., A 58-year-old male with a history of diabetes and an axillary-brachial bypass graft experiences localized infection. The surgeon performs complete excision of the infected graft and primary repair of the artery and vein.
* Preoperative and postoperative diagnoses.* Detailed description of the surgical procedure, including the extent of graft excision.* Cultures and sensitivity reports from the infected tissue.* Pathologic examination of excised tissue.* Images (e.g., ultrasound, angiogram) to document the location and extent of the infection.* Documentation of any complications.
** This code should only be used for the excision of an infected graft. If the graft is replaced, the replacement procedure should be coded separately.The surgeon should document the precise location and extent of the infection and the type of graft involved. Further details on global surgical days are needed for proper billing.
- Revenue Code: P2F (MAJOR PROCEDURE, CARDIOVASCULAR - OTHER)
- RVU: Information not available in provided source.Refer to CMS fee schedules for current RVU values.
- Global Days: Information not available in provided source.Consult the official CPT guidelines for global period details.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: This is a surgical procedure; therefore, a TC modifier is not applicable.
- Fee Schedule: Historical fee schedule information is not provided, but can be found through CMS resources and private payer fee schedules.
- Specialties:Vascular Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center