2025 CPT code 33223
Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Cardiovascular System Feed
Relocation of skin pocket for implantable defibrillator.
Modifiers may apply based on specific payer rules and circumstances surrounding the procedure.
Medical necessity for 33223 is established when relocation is required due to complications such as infection, erosion, or device malfunction attributable to the pocket location. The documentation should clearly support the medical necessity for the procedure.
The physician is responsible for the entire procedure, including prepping and anesthetizing the patient, creating the new pocket, relocating the device and leads, testing functionality, closing the incision, and managing the old pocket site.
In simple words: The doctor moves the defibrillator implanted under your skin to a new spot, usually because of a problem like an infection or skin damage where it was first placed.They'll make a new small pocket under your skin and carefully move the device there, making sure it's still connected and working correctly.
This procedure involves creating a new pocket in a different location and relocating the defibrillator device pocket in a patient with an existing implantable defibrillator. This is typically done due to complications such as infection or erosion at the original site. The procedure involves incising the scar over the original impulse generator, removing scar tissue, inspecting the site, creating a new pocket, disconnecting and reconnecting the leads, testing the device, closing the new pocket, and addressing the old pocket to prevent infection and ensure healing.
Example 1: A patient with an infected implantable defibrillator pocket requires relocation of the device to a new site to resolve the infection., Skin erosion over the implantable defibrillator necessitates moving the device to prevent further complications., A patient with a suboptimal device location requires relocation for improved device performance or patient comfort.
Documentation should include the reason for relocation (e.g., infection, erosion), details of the procedure, location of the new pocket, device functionality testing results, and management of the old pocket site.
- Revenue Code: P2E: MAJOR PROCEDURE, CARDIOVASCULAR - PACEMAKER INSERTION