Summary & Overview
CPT 33779: Arterial Switch (Jatene) Procedure
CPT code 33779 denotes the arterial switch (Jatene) procedure, a complex congenital cardiac surgery that corrects transposition of the great arteries by surgically switching the aorta and pulmonary artery and may include removal of a prior pulmonary artery band. This code captures a high-acuity, inpatient surgical service typically performed by pediatric or congenital cardiothoracic surgeons and is significant for national cardiac surgical capacity, reimbursement policy, and pediatric congenital heart disease care pathways.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the clinical context for CPT code 33779, the typical site and service type, and the payer landscape covered in the analysis. The publication addresses coding and billing considerations relevant to complex inpatient cardiac surgery, common modifiers used with this procedure, and what to expect in payer coverage and claims processing. It also summarizes benchmarks and policy developments affecting high-complexity congenital cardiac procedures and highlights operational implications for hospitals and surgical teams. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 33779 describes the surgical repair of transposition of the great arteries (arterial switch or Jatene procedure). In this congenital cardiac operation the provider transects and switches the abnormally attached aorta and pulmonary artery so that the aorta arises from the left ventricle and the pulmonary artery arises from the right ventricle; removal of a previously placed pulmonary artery band may also be performed as part of the procedure.
-
Service type: Surgical, congenital cardiac corrective procedure
-
Typical site of service: Inpatient hospital operating room, often performed by pediatric or congenital cardiothoracic surgery teams
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A full-term neonate with critical congenital heart disease is diagnosed in the first days of life with dextro-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) after prenatal screening and postnatal echocardiography demonstrate the aorta arising from the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery arising from the left ventricle. The infant has cyanosis and hypoxemia not fully corrected by prostaglandin E1 infusion and requires stabilization in the neonatal intensive care unit. The clinical workflow includes preoperative evaluation (echocardiogram, arterial blood gases, basic labs), transfer to a pediatric cardiac operating room, general endotracheal anesthesia, median sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass, arterial switch (Jatene) procedure with coronary artery reimplantation and removal of any previously placed pulmonary artery band, hemostasis and chest closure, and postoperative care in the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit with mechanical ventilation, inotropic support, and serial echocardiography to assess ventricular function and coronary patency.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier — standard reporting | Use when no specific billing modifier applies and service is billed normally. |
11 |