2025 CPT code 33955
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Cardiovascular System Surgery Feed
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or extracorporeal life support (ECLS) provided by physician; insertion of central cannula(e) by sternotomy or thoracotomy, birth through 5 years of age.
Modifiers may be applicable. Refer to current CPT guidelines and payer policies.
Medical necessity for ECMO/ECLS should be clearly documented. This typically includes evidence of severe respiratory or cardiac failure that is unresponsive to conventional therapies and documentation supporting the potential for recovery.
The physician is responsible for the entire procedure, including prepping the patient, making the incisions, inserting and positioning the cannula(e), initiating and managing the ECMO/ECLS circuit, and closing the incisions. They must also monitor the patient's response to the procedure.
In simple words: This procedure helps babies and young children (up to 5 years old) whose heart and/or lungs are not working properly. The doctor makes an opening in the chest or breastbone to insert tubes into major blood vessels. These tubes connect to a machine outside the body that acts like an artificial heart and lung, adding oxygen and removing carbon dioxide from the blood.
This code describes a procedure where a physician inserts cannula(e) into a child (birth through 5 years old) via sternotomy or thoracotomy for ECMO/ECLS. ECMO/ECLS provides cardiac and/or respiratory support, allowing the heart and/or lungs to rest and recover.The cannula(e) are inserted into a large vein and/or artery to circulate blood through an external oxygenator, where oxygen is added, carbon dioxide is removed, and the blood is warmed before returning to the patient's body.
Example 1: A newborn with severe respiratory distress syndrome requires ECMO. The physician performs a sternotomy to insert the cannulae and initiate ECMO., A 3-year-old child with myocarditis develops cardiogenic shock. The physician performs a thoracotomy to insert cannulae for ECMO support., A 1-year-old infant after open-heart surgery experiences cardiac failure. The physician inserts cannulae via sternotomy for ECMO support during recovery.
Documentation should include the reason for ECMO/ECLS, type of cannulae used, insertion site, method of insertion (sternotomy or thoracotomy), ECMO/ECLS circuit parameters, patient monitoring data, and any complications encountered.
- Revenue Code: P2F
- Specialties:Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Critical Care, Thoracic Surgery, Cardiovascular Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital