2025 CPT code 37788
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Cardiovascular System Feed
Penile revascularization, artery, with or without vein graft.
Modifiers can be applied to 37788 as needed.For example, modifier 22 can be used for increased procedural services, 51 for multiple procedures, 62 for two surgeons. Refer to current CPT guidelines for modifier usage.
Medical necessity must be established by documenting the underlying cause of the arterial insufficiency and demonstrating that conservative treatments have been unsuccessful or are not appropriate.The medical record should show that the patient's condition significantly impairs erectile function and that the expected benefits of surgery outweigh the risks.
The physician harvests a healthy vein or artery, often from the leg or chest, while the patient is under anesthesia. This graft is then attached to the dorsal penile artery, bypassing the blockage and restoring normal blood flow. An arterialization of the deep dorsal vein might be performed. The surgeon also performs any necessary operative arteriogram.
In simple words: This surgery improves blood flow to the penis by creating a detour around a blocked artery. A healthy blood vessel from another part of the body is used to create this detour, allowing blood to flow more easily.
This procedure involves restoring blood flow to the penis by bypassing a blockage in the penile artery.A healthy blood vessel, either a vein from the leg or an artery from the chest or wrist, is grafted onto the penile artery, bypassing the obstruction to improve blood flow.
Example 1: A 35-year-old male cyclist experiences erectile dysfunction after a bicycle accident. Imaging reveals damage to the penile artery. Code 37788 is used for the surgical repair using a vein graft., A 40-year-old male presents with erectile dysfunction due to atherosclerosis affecting the penile artery.Code 37788 is used for the revascularization procedure where the surgeon uses an artery from the chest as a graft., A young man sustains pelvic trauma in a car accident, leading to arterial insufficiency in the penis. The surgeon performs a penile revascularization using the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery as an alternative graft. Code 37788 is used to report the procedure.
Documentation should include patient history, physical exam findings, diagnostic test results (e.g., arteriography, duplex scan), operative report detailing the procedure including type of graft used, and post-operative notes.
- Specialties:Cardiovascular Surgery, Urology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center