2025 CPT code 33030
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Cardiovascular System Feed
Subtotal or complete pericardiectomy without cardiopulmonary bypass.
Modifiers may be applicable to 33030. Common modifiers include:-22: Increased Procedural Services (for unusually complex or time-consuming procedures)-51: Multiple Procedures (when performed with other procedures during the same surgical session)
Medical necessity for a pericardiectomy is established when the patient has a condition affecting the pericardium, such as constrictive pericarditis or recurrent pericarditis, that is causing significant symptoms and/or impairing heart function.The procedure must be deemed necessary by the treating physician and supported by appropriate diagnostic tests and clinical findings.
The surgeon is responsible for performing the pericardiectomy procedure, including making the incision, removing the pericardium, and closing the incision. They also manage any complications that may arise during or after the surgery.
In simple words: This procedure involves removing the damaged sac around the heart without using a heart-lung machine. The surgeon makes an incision in the chest, either through the breastbone or between the ribs, to access and remove the pericardium. This allows the heart to beat more effectively.
This code describes a surgical procedure where the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart, is partially or completely removed.This procedure is performed without the use of a cardiopulmonary bypass machine. The approach can be either through the breastbone (sternotomy) or between the ribs (thoracotomy), depending on the extent and location of the affected pericardium.
Example 1: A patient with constrictive pericarditis, where the pericardium has become thickened and is restricting the heart's movement, undergoes a pericardiectomy to relieve the constriction and improve heart function., A patient with recurrent pericarditis, despite medical management, undergoes a pericardiectomy to prevent further inflammation and complications., A patient with a trapped pericardial effusion, where fluid is accumulating around the heart and causing compression, undergoes a pericardiectomy to remove the pericardium and allow for drainage of the fluid.
Documentation should include the operative report detailing the extent of pericardiectomy (subtotal or complete), the surgical approach used (sternotomy or thoracotomy), any complications encountered, and the reason for the procedure (e.g., constrictive pericarditis, recurrent pericarditis). Preoperative evaluations, such as echocardiograms and imaging studies, should also be documented to support the diagnosis and medical necessity of the procedure.
** Pericardiectomy may be performed with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.Code 33031 is used when cardiopulmonary bypass is utilized. It is important to distinguish between partial and complete pericardiectomy, as the extent of the procedure is a key factor in determining the appropriate code.
- Revenue Code: P2F - MAJOR PROCEDURE, CARDIOVASCULAR - OTHER
- Specialties:Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cardiac Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital