2025 CPT code 37221
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Therapeutic - Cardiovascular System Surgery Feed
Revascularization of the iliac artery with stent placement, including angioplasty within the same vessel, when performed.
Modifiers may be applicable. Refer to current CPT guidelines.
Medical necessity must be established by documenting the patient's symptoms, functional limitations, and the severity of the stenosis or blockage in the iliac artery. The rationale for choosing stent placement as the appropriate treatment modality should also be documented.
The physician performs the procedure including prepping and anesthetizing the patient, making the incision or puncture, introducing the guidewire and catheter, using arteriography for guidance, deploying and expanding the stent, confirming stent placement, suturing the incision site, and monitoring the patient’s vital signs and stability.
In simple words: This procedure restores blood flow in a narrowed or blocked iliac artery in one leg. A stent is placed inside the artery to open it up, and an angioplasty (balloon procedure) may also be done in the same vessel if needed.
Transluminal stent placement is performed in the initial unilateral iliac artery through an endovascular, open, or percutaneous approach. This procedure involves the insertion of a stent into the artery and expands it to increase blood flow.This code includes angioplasty within the same vessel, when performed.
Example 1: A patient presents with severe claudication in the right leg due to a stenosis in the right external iliac artery. The physician performs a percutaneous transluminal stent placement in the affected artery to restore blood flow., A patient with a history of peripheral artery disease experiences worsening symptoms in the left leg. An angiogram reveals a significant blockage in the left common iliac artery. The physician performs an open surgical approach to place a stent in the artery and restore blood flow., A patient undergoes an endovascular procedure for a stenosis in the right internal iliac artery. During the procedure, the physician performs an angioplasty within the same vessel in addition to stent placement to ensure optimal vessel opening.
Documentation should include the diagnosis, the approach used (endovascular, open, or percutaneous), the specific artery treated, the type of stent used, any adjunctive procedures performed (e.g., angioplasty), and the outcome of the procedure.Pre- and post-procedure angiographic findings should also be documented.
** Code 37221 is for the initial vessel treated. For subsequent vessels treated during the same procedure, use add-on codes 37222 (angioplasty) or 37223 (stent placement).
- Revenue Code: P2F
- Specialties:Vascular Surgery, Interventional Radiology, Cardiology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center