Summary & Overview
CPT 33548: Surgical Ventricular Restoration After Myocardial Infarction
CPT code 33548 represents open surgical ventricular restoration procedures to repair and reshape the left ventricle damaged by myocardial infarction. These complex cardiac surgeries aim to restore ventricular geometry, reduce scar-related dysfunction, and improve hemodynamic performance. Nationally, the code is significant because it captures high-acuity, resource-intensive inpatient cardiac care with implications for surgical outcomes, length of stay, and bundled-payment considerations.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for ventricular restoration, typical sites of service, and commonly associated billing modifiers. The publication summarizes benchmark patterns and payer coverage considerations where available, highlights coding and documentation points that affect claim adjudication, and outlines the clinical rationale for the procedure in post-infarction heart failure management.
This analysis is intended for clinicians, coding professionals, and policy analysts seeking a concise reference to CPT code 33548, including operational and payer-related implications for national practice settings. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 33548 describes surgical procedures that employ various techniques to restore ventricular function, size, and shape after damage from myocardial infarction. The service focuses on reshaping or reconstructing the left ventricle that is enlarged, scarred, or dysfunctional as a result of infarction.
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Service type: Open surgical ventricular reconstruction and restoration techniques to repair post-infarction ventricular damage
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Typical site of service: Inpatient hospital operating room or cardiac surgery suite, often as part of a staged or combined cardiac surgical admission
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old male with a history of a large anterior myocardial infarction 6 months prior presents with progressive exertional dyspnea, fatigue, and reduced exercise tolerance. Echocardiography demonstrates a dilated left ventricle with an akinetic anterior wall, an apical aneurysm, and an ejection fraction of 25%. Coronary angiography shows patent grafts but extensive scarred myocardium in the left ventricle consistent with remodeling from prior infarction. After multidisciplinary heart team review, the patient is scheduled for surgical ventricular restoration to exclude scarred, dyskinetic myocardium and restore ventricular geometry.
Preoperative workflow includes cardiac surgical consultation, cardiology optimization (medical therapy and device assessment), informed consent discussing risks and benefits, preoperative imaging (transthoracic and/or transesophageal echocardiography, cardiac MRI if needed), and perioperative anesthesia evaluation. The procedure is performed in an inpatient operating room with cardiac surgery and perfusion teams; postoperative care occurs in the cardiothoracic surgical intensive care unit with hemodynamic monitoring, pain control, and staged transition to step-down and outpatient cardiac rehabilitation.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Standard default — no modifier | Use when no special circumstances apply to the service |