2025 CPT code 36246
Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Cardiovascular System Feed
Selective catheter placement, arterial system; initial second order abdominal, pelvic, or lower extremity artery branch, within a vascular family.
Modifiers may be applicable. Refer to current CPT guidelines for appropriate modifier usage.
Medical necessity for this procedure must be supported by documentation demonstrating the clinical indication for the angiography, such as symptoms, diagnostic test results, or other clinical findings suggesting a vascular issue in the abdomen, pelvis, or lower extremity.
The physician performing the procedure is responsible for gaining access to the blood vessels, typically through the femoral artery.They clean the area, administer local anesthesia, make a small incision, insert the guidewire and catheter, and guide it to the targeted area. They then inject contrast material and use X-ray/fluoroscopy to visualize the blood vessels.The physician must also ensure proper documentation of the procedure.
- Surgery > Cardiovascular System > Arteries and Veins > Vascular Introduction and Injection Procedures > Intra-Arterial-Intra-Aortic Vascular Injection Procedures > Intra-Arterial (Catheter and Infusion Pump) Procedures
In simple words: This procedure involves inserting a thin tube (catheter) into a blood vessel in your abdomen, pelvis, or leg to diagnose or treat a medical condition. The doctor uses X-ray imaging to guide the catheter to a specific smaller artery branch.
This code describes a procedure where a catheter is selectively placed into a second order branch of an artery in the abdomen, pelvis, or lower extremity. This placement is within the same vascular family.It includes the introduction and all lesser order selective catheterizations used in the approach.
Example 1: A patient presents with suspected peripheral artery disease in the leg.The physician performs selective catheterization of the anterior tibial artery (second order branch) to assess blood flow and identify any blockages., A patient is experiencing abdominal pain and suspected blockage in the inferior mesenteric artery.The physician performs selective catheterization of a second order branch of this artery to determine the location and extent of the blockage., A patient with pelvic trauma undergoes angiography to assess for vascular injury. The physician performs selective catheterization of a second order branch of the internal iliac artery to evaluate the pelvic vasculature.
Documentation should include the point of access, approach (ipsilateral or contralateral), the highest level of catheter manipulation, the specific artery catheterized, the order of the branch, and any associated imaging studies performed.Details of the contrast material used, findings, and any interventions performed should also be documented.Medical necessity for the procedure must also be clearly documented.
- Revenue Code: P2F - Major Procedure, Cardiovascular - Other
- Specialties:Interventional Radiology, Vascular Surgery, Cardiology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center