2025 CPT code 33952
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Cardiovascular System Surgery Feed
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or extracorporeal life support (ECLS) cannula insertion in patients 6 years and older. This includes percutaneous insertion of peripheral arterial and/or venous cannula(e) with fluoroscopic guidance when performed.
Modifiers may be applicable. For example, modifier 22 (Increased Procedural Services) may be used if the procedure is significantly more complex than usual.Modifier 59 (Distinct Procedural Service) should be appended if this service is distinct from another service performed on the same day.
Medical necessity for ECMO/ECLS is established when a patient's heart and/or lungs are failing to adequately support life function, and other less invasive interventions have been unsuccessful or are not appropriate.
The physician is responsible for preparing the patient, accessing the blood vessel, inserting the cannula, ensuring proper placement (potentially using fluoroscopic guidance), initiating the ECMO/ECLS circuit, and closing the incision. They must also manage any complications related to the procedure.
In simple words: This procedure helps a child (6 years or older) whose heart and/or lungs aren't working properly.The doctor inserts a small tube (cannula) through the skin into a blood vessel in the arm or leg.This tube allows a machine outside the body to act like a heart and/or lung, adding oxygen to the blood and removing carbon dioxide.Sometimes, an x-ray video is used during the procedure.
This code describes a procedure where a physician inserts cannula(e) into a patient's peripheral artery or vein for ECMO/ECLS.The patient is 6 years old or older. The cannula(e) insertion is percutaneous (through the skin). The procedure includes fluoroscopic guidance, if used.ECMO/ECLS provides cardiac and/or respiratory support, allowing the heart and/or lungs to rest and recover. Blood is pumped out of the body to a membrane lung where oxygen is added and carbon dioxide is removed, and then returned to the patient. This procedure is distinct from the daily management of the patient, which can be reported separately.
Example 1: A 10-year-old child with severe pneumonia requires respiratory support and is placed on ECMO/ECLS via peripheral cannula insertion., A patient with acute heart failure following a heart attack requires both cardiac and respiratory support and undergoes peripheral cannula insertion for ECMO/ECLS., A teenager involved in a car accident suffers lung trauma and is put on ECMO/ECLS with percutaneous insertion of a peripheral cannula.
Documentation should include the medical necessity for ECMO/ECLS, type of cannula(e) used, insertion site(s), use of fluoroscopic guidance (if applicable), and any complications encountered during the procedure.
- Revenue Code: P2F: Major Procedure, Cardiovascular - Other
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Cardiothoracic Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Critical Care Medicine
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital