2025 CPT code 37211
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Vascular Procedures Surgery Feed
Transcatheter therapy, arterial infusion for thrombolysis, excluding coronary or intracranial arteries; initial treatment day, including radiological supervision and interpretation.
Modifiers 25, 50, 59, and others may apply depending on the circumstances of the procedure.Modifier 25 indicates a significant, separately identifiable E/M service was performed on the same day. Modifier 50 is for bilateral procedures. Modifier 59 is for distinct procedural services.Always refer to the current CPT manual for the most accurate interpretation of modifier use.
Medical necessity is established by the presence of a clinically significant arterial occlusion causing symptoms of ischemia (e.g., pain, pallor, pulselessness, paresthesia, paralysis) that threaten limb viability or organ function. The benefits of the thrombolytic therapy must outweigh the risks of bleeding complications.
The physician is responsible for the entire procedure, from preparing the patient and accessing the vessel to administering the thrombolytic medication and interpreting the fluoroscopic images.This includes selecting the appropriate artery, advancing the catheter, monitoring the infusion, and managing any complications.
In simple words: This code covers the first day of a procedure where a doctor inserts a thin tube into an artery (a blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart) to put in medicine that dissolves a blood clot. The doctor also watches the procedure using X-rays and interprets the images.
This CPT code represents the initial day of transcatheter arterial thrombolytic infusion therapy, excluding coronary or intracranial arteries.The procedure involves inserting a catheter into an artery to deliver thrombolytic medication to dissolve a blood clot.This code encompasses the entire procedure, including catheter insertion, drug infusion, radiological supervision and interpretation performed by the physician.
Example 1: A patient presents with acute arterial occlusion in the lower extremity.After assessment, the physician performs a transcatheter arterial thrombolysis using 37211 for the initial treatment day.Post-procedure, the patient shows improvement in perfusion., A patient with a history of peripheral artery disease experiences acute limb ischemia.The physician performs transcatheter thrombolysis, utilizing 37211 on the initial treatment day.Subsequent days of infusion are coded using 37213 and 37214., A patient presents with an acute arterial thrombus in the femoral artery.Following diagnostic angiography, the physician performs transcatheter thrombolysis using 37211.The procedure requires multiple catheterizations, appropriately coded.No additional percutaneous interventions were needed.
Detailed patient history including the onset and symptoms of the arterial occlusion;Pre-procedure imaging studies demonstrating the location and extent of the thrombus;Procedure notes documenting catheter placement, the type and amount of thrombolytic agent used, and any complications;Post-procedure imaging to assess the effectiveness of the thrombolysis;Physician's interpretation of all imaging and procedural notes.
** Ultrasound guidance for vascular access is not included and should be coded separately using 76937 if appropriate.Ongoing evaluation and management services on the day of the procedure related to thrombolysis are included in 37211.
- Revenue Code: P2F (MAJOR PROCEDURE, CARDIOVASCULAR - OTHER)
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Not applicable.
- Specialties:Vascular Surgery, Interventional Radiology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center