2025 CPT code 34834
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Cardiovascular System Feed
Open brachial artery exposure for delivery of endovascular prosthesis, unilateral. (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
Modifiers may be applicable to this code depending on the specific circumstances of the procedure.
Medical necessity must be established for both the primary procedure and the brachial artery exposure. This may include imaging studies demonstrating the need for intervention, patient symptoms, and failed conservative treatment options.The rationale for choosing brachial access should also be documented if alternative access sites are unsuitable.
The physician makes an incision over the brachial artery in the arm, carefully dissects surrounding structures, and controls bleeding. An opening is created in the artery to allow insertion of an endovascular prosthesis. After the main procedure, the artery and incision are closed with sutures.
In simple words: This procedure involves making an incision in the arm to access the brachial artery, which is a major blood vessel. This access is created to help place a stent graft, which is a tube-like device used to repair a damaged blood vessel. This procedure is typically done in conjunction with another, more extensive procedure.
Open brachial artery exposure to assist in the deployment of aortic or iliac endovascular prosthesis by arm incision, unilateral. This code is reported in addition to the primary procedure code.
Example 1: A patient requires an endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, and the brachial artery is used for access due to challenging anatomy in the groin or leg arteries., A patient has an iliac artery aneurysm that necessitates an endovascular repair. The brachial artery approach is used for stent graft delivery., During a complex endovascular procedure, additional access is needed, and the brachial artery is exposed to facilitate the deployment of the endovascular prosthesis.
Documentation should include the reason for brachial artery access, details of the exposure procedure, type and size of the endovascular prosthesis, and any complications encountered. The primary procedure performed in conjunction with this code should also be clearly documented.
** Code 34834 is an add-on code and is always reported in addition to the primary procedure. It is intended to describe the work involved in accessing the brachial artery, and it's not reported if other access methods are used.
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Vascular Surgery, Interventional Radiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center