2025 CPT code 36217
Selective catheter placement, arterial system; initial third order or more selective thoracic or brachiocephalic branch, within a vascular family
Modifiers such as 22 (Increased Procedural Services), 52 (Reduced Services), 59 (Distinct Procedural Service), 73(Discontinued Outpatient Hospital/Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Procedure Prior to the Administration of Anesthesia), 74 (Discontinued Outpatient Hospital/Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Procedure After Administration of Anesthesia), 76 (Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician), 77(Repeat Procedure by Another Physician) are applicable. Specific modifier use depends on the circumstances of the procedure.
The physician gains access to the blood vessels, most commonly through the femoral artery. After cleaning and anesthetizing the area, a small incision is made, and a guidewire is inserted, followed by a catheter. The catheter is advanced to the target area, and contrast material is injected for visualization using X-ray and/or fluoroscopic imaging.
In simple words: The doctor inserts a thin tube (catheter) into an artery in your groin or arm and guides it to a specific artery in your chest or the one supplying your right arm and head. This is done to take X-ray images of those arteries.
The provider advances a catheter into each third order or smaller thoracic or brachiocephalic branch within a vascular family, typically to perform angiography of these arteries.
Example 1: A patient presents with symptoms of a stroke. To pinpoint the location of potential blockage in the brain's blood supply, the physician performs a selective catheterization of the right middle cerebral artery, which includes catheterization of the right common and internal carotid arteries., A patient with chest pain undergoes selective catheterization of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) along with its diagonal branches and septal perforator branches. This allows detailed visualization and assessment of the LAD and its branches., Selective catheterization is used to visualize the brachiocephalic artery and its branches.
Documentation should include details of the access site, the approach (ipsilateral or contralateral), the highest-level point of catheter manipulation, the specific arteries catheterized, and the imaging studies performed.Reports of the imaging studies should also be included.
- Specialties:Interventional Radiology, Cardiology, Vascular Surgery, Neurosurgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center