Headline: CPT code 33814: Surgical repair of aortopulmonary defect using cardiopulmonary bypass

Lead: CPT code 33814 denotes the open surgical obliteration or correction of an aortopulmonary defect performed with cardiopulmonary bypass. This cardiac procedure addresses pathologic communication between the ascending aorta and the pulmonary artery and is typically performed in an inpatient operating room during cardiac surgery.

What this code represents and why it matters: CPT code 33814 captures a complex, resource-intensive congenital or structural heart repair requiring cardiopulmonary bypass. As a high-acuity surgical intervention, it has implications for hospital resource utilization, perioperative care pathways, and payer coverage policies. Accurate coding of this procedure is critical for clinical documentation, quality measurement, and reimbursement alignment across national payers.

Key payers covered: The analysis considers major national payers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.

What readers will learn: The publication provides clinical context for the procedure, outlines typical sites of service and service type, and summarizes payer coverage patterns and benchmark considerations where available. It also highlights common billing modifiers and coding considerations for complex cardiac surgery. Data not available in the input will be noted explicitly where applicable.