Summary & Overview
CPT 33517: Single Venous Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
CPT code 33517 denotes a single venous coronary artery bypass graft performed as part of a combined venous and arterial coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) operation. This surgical revascularization procedure uses a vein graft — often harvested from the leg — to bypass an occluded or damaged coronary artery, restoring myocardial blood flow and alleviating symptoms such as angina. Nationally, CABG procedures remain a core component of surgical cardiac care for multivessel coronary disease and acute ischemia management, making accurate coding essential for clinical documentation, quality measurement, and payer reimbursement.
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 the procedure, typical sites of service, and an overview of common modifiers used with cardiac surgical codes. The publication outlines coding nuances relevant to combined venous and arterial grafting and highlights what stakeholders need to know about documentation and billing classification for this specific CABG variant. Where input data is missing, the report notes that information is not available. The content is aimed at clinicians, coding professionals, and policy analysts seeking a clear national summary of CPT code 33517 and its role in cardiac surgical services.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 33517 describes a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedure using a single venous graft segment harvested from another site (commonly the leg) performed during a CABG operation that includes both venous and arterial grafting. The procedure diverts blood around damaged coronary vessels to restore circulation, improve cardiac function, and reduce ischemic symptoms such as angina.
Service type: Surgical revascularization — single venous coronary artery bypass graft during combined venous and arterial CABG
Typical site of service: Inpatient hospital operating room during coronary artery bypass grafting (cardiac surgery)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 67-year-old male with a history of progressive exertional angina, multivessel coronary artery disease on coronary angiography, and ischemic changes on stress testing is scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Intraoperative findings reveal one or more severely stenotic or occluded native coronary arteries suitable for bypass. The cardiac surgeon harvests a single segment of saphenous vein from the leg and constructs a venous bypass graft in conjunction with at least one arterial graft during the same operative session. The patient undergoes general endotracheal anesthesia in an inpatient operating room or cardiac surgical suite, receives cardiopulmonary bypass as indicated, and is monitored postoperatively in a cardiac intensive care unit. The procedure is performed to restore myocardial perfusion, reduce angina, and improve cardiac function. Typical documentation includes preoperative diagnosis and indications, informed consent, operative report with graft count and conduit details, anesthesia record, cardiopulmonary bypass times if used, and postoperative plan including ICU disposition and medications.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Procedure complete — no modifier | Standard reporting when no special circumstance applies |
11 |