2025 CPT code 34421
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Venous Embolectomy/Thrombectomy, Direct or With Catheter Surgery Feed
Thrombectomy, direct or with catheter; vena cava, iliac, femoropopliteal vein, by leg incision.
Modifiers may be applicable to this code. Refer to current CPT coding guidelines for appropriate modifier usage.
Medical necessity for this procedure is established by the presence of a symptomatic thrombus causing significant impairment of venous flow.Documentation should support the severity of the patient’s condition and the need for surgical intervention.
The physician is responsible for the complete surgical procedure, including prepping and anesthetizing the patient, making the incision, removing the clot, repairing the vein, checking for restored blood flow, and closing the incision.
In simple words: This procedure removes a blood clot from a major vein in the leg, groin, or abdomen area. The surgeon makes a cut in the leg to access the vein and removes the clot, either directly or using a thin, flexible tube called a catheter.
This procedure involves the surgical removal of a blood clot (thrombus) from the vena cava, iliac, or femoropopliteal vein through an incision in the leg.The thrombectomy may be performed directly or with the assistance of a catheter.This code includes establishing both inflow and outflow.
Example 1: A patient presents with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the femoropopliteal vein. An incision is made in the leg to access the vein, and the clot is removed directly., A patient with iliac vein thrombosis undergoes thrombectomy via a leg incision. A catheter is used to remove the clot., A patient has a clot extending from the femoropopliteal vein into the iliac vein and requires thrombectomy through a leg incision.A combination of direct removal and catheter-assisted techniques are used.
Documentation should include the location and extent of the thrombus, the method of removal (direct or catheter-assisted), operative details including any complications, and confirmation of restored blood flow.
- Revenue Code: P2F (Major Procedure, Cardiovascular - Other)
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Vascular Surgery, General Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center