2025 CPT code 37619
Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Cardiovascular System Feed
Ligation of inferior vena cava.
Modifiers may be applicable. Refer to current CPT guidelines for specific modifier usage.
Medical necessity for inferior vena cava ligation is established when other treatments for preventing pulmonary embolism are contraindicated or have failed. The patient must have a documented risk of venous thromboembolism, and the potential benefits of the procedure must outweigh the risks.
When the patient is appropriately prepped and anesthetized, the provider makes a midline abdomen incision, down through the muscles. He exposes the inferior vena cava and puts sutures around it or places a clip to cause partial obstruction of the inferior vena cava.
In simple words: The surgeon ties off a major vein in the abdomen (inferior vena cava) to make it narrower. This helps prevent blood clots from the lower body from traveling to the lungs.
The provider ties off the inferior vena cava to narrow the diameter of the vessel with the help of sutures or a clip. This procedure is primarily performed to obstruct blood flow between the inferior vena cava and the pulmonary vein, preventing blood clots (emboli) from entering the pulmonary vein. The procedure involves a midline abdominal incision, exposure of the inferior vena cava, and placement of sutures or a clip to cause partial obstruction.
Example 1: A patient with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and a high risk of pulmonary embolism undergoes ligation of the inferior vena cava to prevent clots from traveling to the lungs., A patient with recurrent pulmonary emboli despite anticoagulation therapy undergoes ligation of the inferior vena cava as a preventative measure., A patient with a contraindication to anticoagulant medication and DVT undergoes IVC ligation to minimize the risk of pulmonary embolism.
Documentation should include the diagnosis necessitating the procedure (e.g., DVT, pulmonary embolism), prior treatment attempts (e.g., anticoagulation therapy), operative report detailing the procedure, and post-operative notes.
- Revenue Code: P2F
- Specialties:Cardiovascular surgery, Vascular surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital