Summary & Overview
CPT 33031: Pericardiectomy With Cardiopulmonary Bypass
CPT code 33031 represents pericardiectomy—surgical excision of the pericardium performed with cardiopulmonary bypass. This high-acuity cardiac surgical code is used for definitive treatment of constrictive pericarditis, recurrent pericardial effusion causing hemodynamic compromise, and other conditions requiring removal of the pericardial sac. Nationally, the code is relevant because it denotes complex, resource-intensive inpatient cardiac surgery with implications for operative staffing, intensive care utilization, and hospital reimbursement.
Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context, typical sites of service, and the operational implications of billing for CPT code 33031. The publication covers expected care setting and service type, common billing modifiers (listed separately), and how CPT code 33031 fits into cardiac surgical service lines. It also outlines what operational stakeholders should know about case complexity, inpatient resource needs, and documentation elements that support billing for this procedure.
Data not available in the input for specific payer rates, associated taxonomies, and ICD-10 diagnosis pairings.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 33031 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider excises the pericardium, the outer covering of the heart, either completely or partially. The procedure is performed with the patient placed on cardiopulmonary bypass, which temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs during the operation.
Service type: Operative cardiac surgery (pericardiectomy) with cardiopulmonary bypass
Typical site of service: Inpatient hospital operating room
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old male with recurrent, symptomatic constrictive pericarditis presents with progressive dyspnea, peripheral edema, and exercise intolerance despite medical management. Preoperative evaluation includes transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography demonstrating pericardial thickening and ventricular interaction, chest CT to assess pericardial calcification, cardiac catheterization to evaluate hemodynamics, and routine labs. The patient is scheduled for a pericardiectomy under general anesthesia with full cardiopulmonary bypass support. The operative team includes a cardiothoracic surgeon, perfusionist, anesthesiologist, and cardiology consultants. The procedure involves median sternotomy, careful dissection and excision of the pericardium (partial or total) to relieve constriction, placement on cardiopulmonary bypass for hemodynamic stability and myocardial protection when indicated, intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography for real-time assessment, and postoperative transfer to the cardiothoracic intensive care unit for hemodynamic monitoring and ventilator management. Postoperative care includes pain control, monitoring for bleeding, arrhythmia surveillance, fluid management, and follow-up echocardiography prior to discharge.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
62 | Two surgeons | Use when two surgeons operate together and each performs distinct portions of the pericardiectomy. |