Summary & Overview
CPT 33802: Surgical Repair of Aberrant Vessel
CPT code 33802 denotes surgical repair of an aberrant or unusually coursing vessel by dividing the vessel and removing constricting fibrous bands to restore normal blood flow. This corrective vascular surgery is clinically significant because it addresses congenital or acquired anatomic vascular anomalies that can cause ischemia, compression symptoms, or hemodynamic instability. Nationally, interventions for vascular anomalies affect hospital surgical volumes and influence specialty vascular and cardiothoracic service lines.
Key payers in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical intent and typical settings for the procedure, along with payer coverage context and commonly reported modifiers. The publication summarizes available benchmarks where present, highlights relevant billing and coding considerations, and provides clinical context for utilization of this surgical repair code.
This summary is intended for health system administrators, coding and billing professionals, and clinical leaders seeking a clear, national-level briefing on CPT code 33802—what the code represents, who pays for it, and what practitioners should expect in typical practice settings. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 33802 describes the surgical repair of an aberrant vessel or a vessel with an unusual course or origin. The procedure involves dividing the vessel and removing any constricting fibrous bands that may be limiting normal blood flow through the vessel. This service addresses anatomic vascular anomalies that impair perfusion or create hemodynamic compromise.
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Service type: Surgical vascular repair, corrective vascular surgery
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Typical site of service: Operating room or hospital inpatient/surgical suite
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 45-year-old patient presents with progressive dysphagia, chest pain, and evidence of vascular compression on imaging consistent with an aberrant subclavian artery causing esophageal or tracheal compression. After cross-sectional imaging (CT angiography) confirms an aberrant vessel with fibrous bands limiting flow or causing external compression, the patient is scheduled for open surgical repair. The clinical workflow includes preoperative vascular surgery and anesthesiology evaluation, informed consent detailing risks (bleeding, nerve injury, infection), perioperative arterial access and monitoring, general endotracheal anesthesia, open exposure of the involved vessel, division of the aberrant vessel segment or its fibrous constricting bands, restoration of normal flow or re-routing as indicated, hemostasis, and postoperative vascular monitoring in a recovery or ICU setting. Typical sites of service are an inpatient operating room or hospital-based surgical suite. The procedure is commonly performed by vascular surgeons, thoracic surgeons, or cardiothoracic surgeons for symptomatic vascular anomalies or flow-limiting fibrous bands.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when work required is substantially greater than typical for 33802 due to complexity, prolonged dissection, or extensive repair. |