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CPT 33572: Coronary Artery Plaque Removal During CABG

CPT code 33572 denotes surgical removal of plaque from a coronary artery performed during a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedure. The service involves accessing the coronary artery, incising the diseased segment, and extracting obstructive plaque to restore arterial patency and reduce the risk of infarction and ventricular damage. This procedure is a specialized component of cardiac surgery and is clinically significant for patients with focal intraluminal plaque complicating CABG.

Key payers commonly analyzed for this code include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication provides national context for clinical use and payer coverage patterns, noting which payers are included in comparative tables.

Readers will learn the clinical scope of CPT code 33572, the typical settings where the procedure is performed, and what to expect in terms of payer inclusion in analyses. The report outlines benchmarks and policy-relevant considerations tied to surgical cardiac services, summarizes any recent policy updates affecting cardiac procedural coding where available, and situates the code within the broader clinical pathway of CABG. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 33572 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider gains access to a coronary artery during a coronary artery bypass graft operation, incises the affected artery, and removes plaque as necessary. The procedure addresses obstructive atherosclerotic plaque that reduces blood flow or can embolize and cause myocardial infarction and ventricular damage.

Service type: Open cardiac surgical plaque removal performed as part of a coronary artery bypass graft procedure
Typical site of service: Inpatient hospital operating room or cardiac surgery suite

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CPT 33572: Coronary Artery Plaque Removal During CABG

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Get alerted when payer policies referencing 33572 are released or updated.

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Open cardiac surgical plaque removal performed as part of a coronary artery bypass graft procedure
Typical site of service: Inpatient hospital operating room or cardiac surgery suite

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 67-year-old male with progressive exertional angina and a prior myocardial infarction presents for surgical coronary revascularization. Coronary angiography demonstrates severe atherosclerotic narrowing of the left anterior descending artery with prominent eccentric plaque and areas of calcification. The cardiac surgery team elects to perform coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with concomitant coronary endarterectomy of the stenotic segment to restore distal flow.

The clinical workflow: preoperative evaluation includes history, cardiac catheterization, echocardiography, labs, and anesthesia assessment. In the operating room under general anesthesia and cardiopulmonary bypass, the surgeon exposes the target coronary artery, makes a longitudinal arteriotomy, and performs 33572 (coronary endarterectomy) by removing atheromatous plaque and smoothing the lumen. The artery is reconstructed and an appropriate bypass graft (typically using left internal mammary artery or saphenous vein) is anastomosed distal to the endarterectomy site. Postoperative care includes ICU monitoring, antiplatelet and anticoagulation management, hemodynamic support, and cardiac rehabilitation planning.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	No physician or reporting requirements (payer-specific)	Rare; use only per payer that recognizes a distinct `00` modifier when required by local payer rules
`11`	Normally provided services	Use when `33572` is performed as described without unusual circumstances
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when the endarterectomy involves significantly greater complexity, time, or effort compared with typical cases
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	Use if general anesthesia was not indicated and unusual anesthesia circumstances apply per payer rules
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Not typically applicable to coronary endarterectomy; included when payers require reporting for bilateral anatomic procedures if relevant
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when `33572` is reported with other distinct surgical procedures during the same operative session and payer requires modifier for multiple procedures
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the endarterectomy was started but not completed or when truncated for clinical reasons
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when procedure is terminated due to extenuating circumstances prior to completion
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use to indicate a separate, distinct procedural service on the same day when documentation supports independence from other reported codes
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct portions of the procedure (co-surgeons)
`66`	Surgical team	Use when a surgical team approach is documented (e.g., multiple surgeons with defined roles)
`78`	Return to OR for related procedure during global period	Use when patient returns to the operating room for a related procedure during the global period for `33572`
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Use when an assistant surgeon provides surgical assistance and payer requires the modifier for payment
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	Use when minimal assistance is provided and payer recognizes this modifier

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207RC0000X`	Cardiothoracic Surgery	Primary specialty performing CABG with endarterectomy
`207L00000X`	Cardiovascular Surgery	Surgeons focusing on coronary revascularization procedures
`207RG0300X`	Thoracic Surgery	Thoracic surgeons who perform cardiac procedures in some systems
`2084P0800X`	Interventional Cardiology	Involved in preoperative catheterization and imaging; not the operating surgeon
`207L00000X`	General Cardiac Surgery	Operational overlap; institution-dependent roles

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I25.10`	Atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery without angina pectoris	Common chronic coronary artery disease indication for CABG with endarterectomy to restore flow
`I25.110`	Atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery with unstable angina	Indicates unstable symptoms where surgical revascularization including endarterectomy may be indicated
`I21.9`	Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified	Acute or recent MI can be associated with obstructive plaque requiring endarterectomy at time of CABG
`I25.118`	Atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery with angina pectoris with documented spasm	Relevant when concomitant plaque and spasm contribute to ischemia addressed during surgery
`I25.2`	Old myocardial infarction	Prior infarction with resultant coronary disease frequently coexists with lesions treated by endarterectomy

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`33533`	Coronary artery bypass, single arterial graft	Often performed in the same operative session as `33572` when grafting follows endarterectomy
`33517`	Coronary artery bypass, one venous graft; with cardiopulmonary bypass	Commonly reported when saphenous vein grafting is performed along with endarterectomy
`33508`	Coronary artery bypass, with cardiopulmonary bypass; with two venous grafts	Used when multiple grafts are required in addition to the endarterectomy
`33210`	Insertion of temporary transvenous pacemaker lead, via subclavian or jugular approach	May be performed perioperatively for conduction issues or during high-risk CABG cases
`93458`	Diagnostic coronary angiography with ventriculography (when performed preoperatively)	Often performed preoperatively to define coronary anatomy before planning `33572`

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	No physician or reporting requirements (payer-specific)	Rare; use only per payer that recognizes a distinct `00` modifier when required by local payer rules
`11`	Normally provided services	Use when `33572` is performed as described without unusual circumstances
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when the endarterectomy involves significantly greater complexity, time, or effort compared with typical cases
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	Use if general anesthesia was not indicated and unusual anesthesia circumstances apply per payer rules
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Not typically applicable to coronary endarterectomy; included when payers require reporting for bilateral anatomic procedures if relevant
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when `33572` is reported with other distinct surgical procedures during the same operative session and payer requires modifier for multiple procedures
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the endarterectomy was started but not completed or when truncated for clinical reasons
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when procedure is terminated due to extenuating circumstances prior to completion
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use to indicate a separate, distinct procedural service on the same day when documentation supports independence from other reported codes
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct portions of the procedure (co-surgeons)
`66`	Surgical team	Use when a surgical team approach is documented (e.g., multiple surgeons with defined roles)
`78`	Return to OR for related procedure during global period	Use when patient returns to the operating room for a related procedure during the global period for `33572`
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Use when an assistant surgeon provides surgical assistance and payer requires the modifier for payment
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	Use when minimal assistance is provided and payer recognizes this modifier

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207RC0000X`	Cardiothoracic Surgery	Primary specialty performing CABG with endarterectomy
`207L00000X`	Cardiovascular Surgery	Surgeons focusing on coronary revascularization procedures
`207RG0300X`	Thoracic Surgery	Thoracic surgeons who perform cardiac procedures in some systems
`2084P0800X`	Interventional Cardiology	Involved in preoperative catheterization and imaging; not the operating surgeon
`207L00000X`	General Cardiac Surgery	Operational overlap; institution-dependent roles

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I25.10`	Atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery without angina pectoris	Common chronic coronary artery disease indication for CABG with endarterectomy to restore flow
`I25.110`	Atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery with unstable angina	Indicates unstable symptoms where surgical revascularization including endarterectomy may be indicated
`I21.9`	Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified	Acute or recent MI can be associated with obstructive plaque requiring endarterectomy at time of CABG
`I25.118`	Atherosclerotic heart disease of native coronary artery with angina pectoris with documented spasm	Relevant when concomitant plaque and spasm contribute to ischemia addressed during surgery
`I25.2`	Old myocardial infarction	Prior infarction with resultant coronary disease frequently coexists with lesions treated by endarterectomy

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`33533`	Coronary artery bypass, single arterial graft	Often performed in the same operative session as `33572` when grafting follows endarterectomy
`33517`	Coronary artery bypass, one venous graft; with cardiopulmonary bypass	Commonly reported when saphenous vein grafting is performed along with endarterectomy
`33508`	Coronary artery bypass, with cardiopulmonary bypass; with two venous grafts	Used when multiple grafts are required in addition to the endarterectomy
`33210`	Insertion of temporary transvenous pacemaker lead, via subclavian or jugular approach	May be performed perioperatively for conduction issues or during high-risk CABG cases
`93458`	Diagnostic coronary angiography with ventriculography (when performed preoperatively)	Often performed preoperatively to define coronary anatomy before planning `33572`

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.