2025 CPT code 33508
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Cardiovascular System Feed
Endoscopic harvesting of vein(s) for coronary artery bypass procedure.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on specific circumstances, such as if the procedure is discontinued (modifier 53), if a distinct procedural service is provided (modifier 59) or if there are multiple modifiers (modifier 99). Modifier -52 (reduced services) should not be appended to add-on code 33508.
Medical necessity for 33508 is established by the need for coronary artery bypass grafting. The endoscopic approach minimizes surgical trauma compared to open vein harvesting. Documentation should support the clinical decision for the bypass surgery and the chosen method of vein harvesting.
The physician is responsible for performing the endoscopic vein harvesting procedure, including making the incision, visualizing and dissecting the vein, ensuring its integrity for grafting, and closing the incision site.
In simple words: The doctor uses a tiny camera inside a thin tube to collect a vein from your leg, usually for a heart bypass surgery. This lets them get the vein through a small cut instead of a large one.
This code describes a surgical endoscopy, including video-assisted harvest of vein(s), typically the saphenous vein from the leg, for a coronary artery bypass procedure.The procedure involves making a small incision at the harvest site, visualizing the vein and surrounding tissues with an endoscope, separating the vein from surrounding tissues, and dissecting and removing the desired length of the vein. The vein is then used to create a bypass around a blocked coronary artery.
Example 1: A patient with multi-vessel coronary artery disease requires a triple bypass surgery. Code 33508 is reported in addition to the bypass procedure codes to account for the endoscopic harvesting of the saphenous vein., A patient undergoing a minimally invasive coronary artery bypass requires endoscopic harvesting of the radial artery.Code 33509 would be used in this case, as 33508 is specific to vein harvesting., A patient with a blockage in the left anterior descending artery requires a single bypass graft. The surgeon performs an endoscopic harvest of the saphenous vein, and code 33508 is reported alongside the bypass procedure code.
Documentation should include details of the endoscopic procedure, including the site of harvest, type of vein harvested, length of vein harvested, and any complications encountered. It must also confirm the vein was harvested endoscopically, not through an open incision, to justify the use of 33508.
- Revenue Code: P8I (ENDOSCOPY - OTHER)
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cardiovascular Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center