2025 CPT code 61703
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Nervous System Feed
Clipping of intracranial aneurysm, cervical approach, including craniotomy
Modifiers such as 22 (increased procedural services), 51 (multiple procedures), 52 (reduced services), and others may be applicable depending on the specific circumstances.
Medical necessity for 61703 is established by the presence of a symptomatic or high-risk intracranial aneurysm requiring surgical intervention to prevent rupture or further neurological complications.
The surgeon makes incisions in the neck and scalp, performs a craniotomy, temporarily occludes the internal carotid artery, clips the aneurysm, controls bleeding, drains the surgical site, sutures the dura, replaces the bone flap, and closes the incisions.
In simple words: The doctor repairs a weakened bulge in a brain blood vessel (aneurysm) by placing a small clip on it to stop blood flow.This involves incisions in the neck and scalp, removing a piece of skull bone to access the brain, and then replacing it.
This procedure involves clipping an intracranial aneurysm through a cervical approach, including a craniotomy. The surgeon accesses the internal carotid artery through a neck incision, temporarily occluding it with a clamp. A craniotomy is performed to expose the aneurysm, and small metal clips are placed at its base to halt blood flow. The carotid artery is then unclamped, and bleeding is controlled. The surgical site is drained, the dura is sutured, the bone flap is secured, and both the neck and scalp incisions are closed.
Example 1: A patient presents with a ruptured intracranial aneurysm requiring urgent surgical intervention. Code 61703 is used as the aneurysm is clipped using a cervical approach with craniotomy., A patient has an unruptured aneurysm that is enlarging and at high risk of rupture. The surgeon performs a prophylactic clipping of the aneurysm using the cervical approach and craniotomy, which is reported with 61703., During a cerebral angiogram, a previously unknown aneurysm is discovered. The patient undergoes immediate surgical repair using a cervical approach with craniotomy. Code 61703 is appropriate in this scenario.
Documentation should include operative reports detailing the cervical approach, craniotomy, aneurysm location and size, clip placement, and any complications. Preoperative imaging studies and neurological assessments should also be documented.
- Revenue Code: P1G
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Neurosurgery, Vascular Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital