Summary & Overview
CPT 01925: Anesthesia for Therapeutic Interventional Radiology of Carotid/Coronary Arteries
CPT code 01925 represents anesthesia care for therapeutic interventional radiological procedures targeting the carotid or coronary arteries. This code is used when an anesthesiologist or qualified anesthesia provider delivers peri-procedural anesthesia for image-guided vascular interventions on these arterial territories. Nationally, accurate coding for complex interventional anesthesia is important for clinical documentation, resource allocation, and standardized reporting across hospital procedural settings.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for when 01925 is reported, comparisons to adjacent interventional anesthesia codes, and practical benchmarks that inform coding consistency and administrative review. The publication outlines typical sites of service and the clinical scenarios that commonly generate this code, and it highlights related codes to aid in appropriate code selection. Also included are common modifiers and mapping considerations for anesthesia service lines to support accurate billing and reconciliation. This summary is written for a national audience and focuses on code definition, clinical context, and operational implications rather than state-specific policy.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 01925 describes anesthesia services provided for therapeutic interventional radiological procedures involving the carotid or coronary arteries. These services involve administering and managing anesthesia care during catheter-based or image-guided procedures performed on carotid or coronary arterial targets.
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Service type: Procedural anesthesia for therapeutic interventional radiology
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Typical site of service: Hospital-based interventional radiology or cardiac catheterization labs, including inpatient and outpatient procedural suites
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 68-year-old male with a history of coronary artery disease and symptomatic carotid stenosis is scheduled for a therapeutic interventional radiology procedure to perform carotid artery stenting under monitored anesthesia care with potential conversion to general anesthesia. Pre-procedure evaluation includes review of cardiac history, medications including antiplatelet therapy, airway assessment, and consent. On the day of service the anesthesia team (anesthesiologist or anesthesiologist assistant) places monitors, establishes IV access, and administers sedation and analgesia tailored to maintain hemodynamic stability while allowing neurovascular monitoring. If the patient develops airway compromise or requires immobility for procedural safety, anesthesia is converted to general endotracheal anesthesia. Post-procedure, the patient is transferred to post-anesthesia care with focused neurologic and cardiovascular monitoring and handoff to interventional radiology and nursing staff for access-site management and antiplatelet therapy planning.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
23 | Unusual Anesthesia — Emergency or unusual circumstances | Use when administration of general anesthesia is required for procedures normally done with local or no anesthesia due to unusual circumstances. |
50 |