Summary & Overview
CPT 33771: Repair of Transposition of the Great Arteries with VSD and Pulmonary Stenosis
CPT code 33771 represents a major congenital cardiac surgery to correct transposition of the great arteries with an associated ventricular septal defect and pulmonary artery narrowing. The operation involves reestablishing the correct arterial connections to the ventricles, enlarging the septal defect and placing a graft to route the left ventricle to the aorta, and relieving pulmonary artery stenosis. This procedure is clinically significant because it addresses life‑threatening structural heart defects present from birth and requires specialized surgical teams and intensive postoperative care.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical context for CPT code 33771, typical sites of service, common modifier usage (listed separately), and the types of benchmarks and policy considerations payers apply to high‑complexity congenital cardiac procedures. The publication outlines where to look for reimbursement policy updates, customary inpatient surgical coding practices, and payer coverage patterns for specialized pediatric and adult congenital cardiac surgery. It also highlights implications for hospital service lines, care coordination needs, and documentation elements that commonly factor into claims adjudication. Data not available in the input is noted where necessary.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 33771 describes a complex congenital cardiac surgical repair for transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary artery stenosis. The procedure includes surgically redirecting the aorta and pulmonary artery to the correct ventricles, enlarging the ventricular septal defect and placing a graft to connect the left ventricle to the aorta, and repairing narrowing of the pulmonary artery.
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Service type: Major congenital cardiac surgery involving intracardiac repair and vascular reconstruction
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Typical site of service: Inpatient hospital setting, cardiac operating room with postoperative intensive care
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 6-month-old infant with cyanosis, failure to thrive, and a harsh systolic murmur is diagnosed with dextro-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) with a large ventricular septal defect (VSD) and subpulmonary stenosis. After echocardiography and cardiac catheterization confirm anatomy and hemodynamics, the patient is scheduled for an arterial switch operation with VSD enlargement and right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) relief. The surgical team performs cardiopulmonary bypass, enlarges the VSD to create an adequate conduit from the left ventricle to the aorta, places an intraventricular baffle or conduit (graft) connecting the left ventricle to the neoaorta, and repairs the pulmonary outflow tract to relieve stenosis.
The clinical workflow includes preoperative evaluation by pediatric cardiology and anesthesiology, informed consent, intraoperative transesophageal or epicardial echocardiography, cardiopulmonary bypass with myocardial protection, surgical repair as described, postoperative ICU care with mechanical ventilation, vasoactive support, serial imaging, and staged follow-up for growth and potential reintervention.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier | Use when no modifier is applicable and standard reporting is required |