CPT code 33335 identifies open surgical repair of the aorta or another great vessel using a graft while the patient is supported on cardiopulmonary bypass. This is a high-acuity cardiac/thoracic procedure commonly performed for aneurysm repair, dissection, or major vessel injury and has significant implications for hospital resource use, perioperative risk, and case-mix for cardiac surgical services. Nationally, this code represents complex operative care requiring specialized teams, perfusion services, and inpatient postoperative monitoring.

Key payers included in this review are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The analysis covers payer coverage patterns and coding guidance relevant to hospital inpatient cardiovascular surgery and reimbursable procedure reporting.

Readers will find a concise clinical and coding overview, benchmarks for utilization where available, common modifiers used with this service, and notes on typical sites of care. The publication also summarizes clinical context for the procedure, operational considerations tied to cardiopulmonary bypass, and policy or coding clarifications that affect billing and documentation. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable.