2025 CPT code 36015
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Cardiovascular System Feed
Selective catheter placement, segmental or subsegmental pulmonary artery.
Modifiers may be applicable, including modifier 50 for bilateral procedures and modifier 76 for repeat procedures by the same physician. Refer to current CPT coding guidelines for appropriate modifier usage.
Medical necessity for this procedure must be established by the patient’s presenting symptoms and clinical suspicion for conditions requiring visualization of the pulmonary arteries, such as pulmonary embolism or other vascular abnormalities.Supporting documentation, such as prior imaging studies or clinical findings, may be required by payers.
The physician performing this procedure is responsible for accessing the appropriate blood vessel, typically through the femoral or brachial vein, under local anesthesia.A guidewire is used to navigate the catheter through the vessels to the targeted segmental or subsegmental pulmonary artery. Contrast material is then injected through the catheter to visualize the vessels during fluoroscopy or x-ray imaging.
In simple words: This procedure involves placing a thin, flexible tube (catheter) into a specific artery in the lungs. This is done to take x-ray images of the blood vessels in the lungs, helping doctors to diagnose and treat conditions like blood clots.
This code describes the selective placement of a catheter into a segmental or subsegmental branch of the pulmonary artery. This procedure is typically performed for pulmonary angiography, a diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize the pulmonary arteries and assess for conditions such as pulmonary embolism.
Example 1: A 65-year-old patient presents to the emergency department with shortness of breath and chest pain, raising suspicion for a pulmonary embolism.A pulmonary angiogram using selective catheter placement (36015) is performed to confirm the diagnosis., A patient with known congenital heart disease requires detailed imaging of their pulmonary vasculature. Selective catheter placement into the segmental and subsegmental pulmonary arteries (36015) allows for precise visualization and assessment of the affected areas., A patient with a history of pulmonary hypertension undergoes a pulmonary angiogram with selective catheter placement (36015) to evaluate the severity of the disease and guide treatment decisions.
Documentation should include details of the access site (e.g., femoral, brachial), the specific segmental or subsegmental artery catheterized, the type and amount of contrast material used, and the findings of the angiogram.Any complications encountered during the procedure should also be documented.
- Revenue Code: P2F - MAJOR PROCEDURE, CARDIOVASCULAR - OTHER
- Specialties:Interventional Radiology, Cardiology, Cardiovascular Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center