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CPT 33881: Endovascular Repair of Thoracic Aorta, No Left Subclavian Coverage

CPT code 33881 denotes an endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta using an endograft or stent graft, deployed without covering the origin of the left subclavian artery. Nationally, this code identifies a high-acuity vascular intervention that combines image-guided endovascular technique with device selection and intraoperative imaging interpretation. It is used across hospital and hybrid operating environments for thoracic aortic pathology requiring stent graft repair, and it carries implications for facility remuneration and device-related payment considerations.

Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical intent and coding scope for CPT code 33881, plus national benchmarking context and common billing considerations related to imaging, device use, and site-of-service impacts. The publication summarizes where this code fits within endovascular aortic care pathways, highlights typical resource use and procedure components captured by the code, and outlines topics for payers and provider billing teams to monitor, including coding specificity and documentation elements tied to preprocedure sizing and intraoperative imaging.

Data not available in the input: Associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, related codes, and detailed payer-specific reimbursement rates.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 33881 describes an endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta using a stent graft delivered and deployed without covering the origin of the left subclavian artery. The procedure includes preprocedure sizing and device selection, nonselective catheterization, and all imaging guidance and interpretation necessary to complete the repair. The service involves repairing part of the thoracic aorta and may include extension of the graft distally toward the celiac artery as needed.

Service type: Endovascular aortic repair (thoracic)

Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or hybrid endovascular suite, as the procedure requires fluoroscopic imaging and device deployment capabilities.

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CPT 33881: Endovascular Repair of Thoracic Aorta, No Left Subclavian Coverage

Data not available in the input: Associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, related codes, and detailed payer-specific reimbursement rates.

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Endovascular aortic repair (thoracic)

Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or hybrid endovascular suite, as the procedure requires fluoroscopic imaging and device deployment capabilities.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 72-year-old male with a history of hypertension and peripheral artery disease presents with an enlarging thoracic aortic aneurysm involving the descending thoracic aorta, confirmed by CTA demonstrating a fusiform aneurysm distal to the left subclavian artery origin. The vascular surgery and interventional cardiology teams plan an endovascular thoracic aortic repair using a stent graft delivered and deployed without covering the origin of the left subclavian artery. Preprocedure workflow includes multidisciplinary evaluation, informed consent, device sizing and selection from preoperative CTA measurements, and anesthesia planning (general or monitored anesthesia care). In the hybrid operating room or interventional suite, vascular access is obtained (commonly femoral), nonselective aortic catheterization and angiography are performed, the endograft is advanced and deployed under fluoroscopic guidance, and completion angiography confirms graft position and exclusion of the aneurysm. Postprocedure care includes vascular access site monitoring, imaging surveillance, blood pressure control, and discharge planning with scheduled CTA surveillance.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	No modifier — standard reporting	Use when no specific modifier applies to the service.
`11`	Office or other outpatient visit	Use when the procedure is performed in an outpatient setting and payer requires this indicator.
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when work, time, or complexity substantially exceeds typical expectations for the procedure.
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	Use when general anesthesia is required for reasons unrelated to the procedure’s usual needs.
`26`	Professional component	Use when physician bills only the professional interpretation portion distinct from facility technical component.
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Not commonly used for aortic endograft repair but available if a payer requires bilateral indicator for paired procedures.
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when this procedure is reported on the same day with other unrelated surgical procedures.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally planned.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is terminated due to extenuating circumstances or patient condition prior to completion.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use to indicate a separate and distinct procedure when multiple endovascular or imaging procedures occur on the same day.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons work together as co-surgeons per payer policy.
`63`	Procedural service — patient <4 years	Rare for this procedure; included for completeness when treating very young patients.
`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 surgical period.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Use when an assistant surgeon performs part of the operative procedure per payer rules.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2080S0106X	Vascular Surgery	Primary specialty performing thoracic endograft repairs.
207RP1001X	Interventional Cardiology	Performs endovascular aortic repairs in hybrid settings.
207K00000X	Cardiothoracic Surgery	May perform open or hybrid aortic repairs and provide surgical backup.
1744P0800X	Interventional Radiology	Provides imaging guidance and may perform endovascular interventions.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I71.1`	Thoracic aortic aneurysm, ruptured	Indicates emergent thoracic endograft repair to exclude rupture and control hemorrhage.
`I71.2`	Thoracic aortic aneurysm, without rupture	Common indication for elective endovascular repair to prevent rupture.
`I71.0`	Dissection of thoracic aorta	Acute or chronic type B aortic dissection may be treated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair to cover entry tears.
`I71.9`	Aortic aneurysm, unspecified site	Used when the aneurysm location is documented as thoracic in the clinical record and supports procedure medical necessity.
`I71.81`	Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm, ruptured	When disease extends toward the celiac axis and may require graft extension toward the celiac artery.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`33880`	Endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta, proximal (e.g., aortic arch to descending thoracic aorta) when graft covers the origin of the left subclavian artery	Alternative thoracic endograft procedure when coverage of the left subclavian artery is necessary; selected based on landing zone.
`36215`	Selective catheter placement, arterial system; each first order thoracic branch, separate catheterization	May be used when selective catheterization of arch vessels is required during planning or adjunct procedures.
`34701`	Bypass graft, with vein; axillary to axillary or axillary to femoral (other peripheral bypass codes may apply)	Performed when adjunctive bypass is necessary for perfusion of a covered branch (e.g., left subclavian revascularization).
`93571`	Extensive endovascular evaluation of pulmonary or systemic arteries (angiography)	Represents advanced angiographic imaging that may be used intraoperatively for guidance and interpretation.
`76937`	Ultrasound guidance for vascular access (arterial or venous)	Used for ultrasound-guided femoral arterial access to reduce complications.
`77012`	CT guidance for biopsy, aspiration and/or catheter placement	Used for preprocedural or intraoperative CT imaging guidance in hybrid rooms when applicable.

CPT 33880: Endovascular Repair of Thoracic Aorta Covering Left Subclavian Origin

CPT-33882-THORACIC-BRANCHED-ENDOVASCULAR-GRAFT-REPAIR-LEFT-SUBCLAVIAN-FENESTRATION

CPT 33882: Thoracic Branched Endovascular Aortic Graft Repair

CPT-33883-THORACIC-AORTA-PROXIMAL-ENDOGRAFT-EXTENSION

CPT 33883: Thoracic Aorta Proximal Endograft Extension

CPT-33886-THORACIC-AORTIC-DISTAL-EXTENSION-ENDOGRAFT

CPT 33886: Thoracic Aortic Distal Extension Endograft Placement

Frequently Asked Questions

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 modifier — standard reporting	Use when no specific modifier applies to the service.
`11`	Office or other outpatient visit	Use when the procedure is performed in an outpatient setting and payer requires this indicator.
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when work, time, or complexity substantially exceeds typical expectations for the procedure.
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	Use when general anesthesia is required for reasons unrelated to the procedure’s usual needs.
`26`	Professional component	Use when physician bills only the professional interpretation portion distinct from facility technical component.
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Not commonly used for aortic endograft repair but available if a payer requires bilateral indicator for paired procedures.
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when this procedure is reported on the same day with other unrelated surgical procedures.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally planned.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is terminated due to extenuating circumstances or patient condition prior to completion.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use to indicate a separate and distinct procedure when multiple endovascular or imaging procedures occur on the same day.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons work together as co-surgeons per payer policy.
`63`	Procedural service — patient <4 years	Rare for this procedure; included for completeness when treating very young patients.
`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 surgical period.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Use when an assistant surgeon performs part of the operative procedure per payer rules.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2080S0106X	Vascular Surgery	Primary specialty performing thoracic endograft repairs.
207RP1001X	Interventional Cardiology	Performs endovascular aortic repairs in hybrid settings.
207K00000X	Cardiothoracic Surgery	May perform open or hybrid aortic repairs and provide surgical backup.
1744P0800X	Interventional Radiology	Provides imaging guidance and may perform endovascular interventions.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I71.1`	Thoracic aortic aneurysm, ruptured	Indicates emergent thoracic endograft repair to exclude rupture and control hemorrhage.
`I71.2`	Thoracic aortic aneurysm, without rupture	Common indication for elective endovascular repair to prevent rupture.
`I71.0`	Dissection of thoracic aorta	Acute or chronic type B aortic dissection may be treated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair to cover entry tears.
`I71.9`	Aortic aneurysm, unspecified site	Used when the aneurysm location is documented as thoracic in the clinical record and supports procedure medical necessity.
`I71.81`	Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm, ruptured	When disease extends toward the celiac axis and may require graft extension toward the celiac artery.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`33880`	Endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta, proximal (e.g., aortic arch to descending thoracic aorta) when graft covers the origin of the left subclavian artery	Alternative thoracic endograft procedure when coverage of the left subclavian artery is necessary; selected based on landing zone.
`36215`	Selective catheter placement, arterial system; each first order thoracic branch, separate catheterization	May be used when selective catheterization of arch vessels is required during planning or adjunct procedures.
`34701`	Bypass graft, with vein; axillary to axillary or axillary to femoral (other peripheral bypass codes may apply)	Performed when adjunctive bypass is necessary for perfusion of a covered branch (e.g., left subclavian revascularization).
`93571`	Extensive endovascular evaluation of pulmonary or systemic arteries (angiography)	Represents advanced angiographic imaging that may be used intraoperatively for guidance and interpretation.
`76937`	Ultrasound guidance for vascular access (arterial or venous)	Used for ultrasound-guided femoral arterial access to reduce complications.
`77012`	CT guidance for biopsy, aspiration and/or catheter placement	Used for preprocedural or intraoperative CT imaging guidance in hybrid rooms when applicable.

CPT 33880: Endovascular Repair of Thoracic Aorta Covering Left Subclavian Origin

CPT-33882-THORACIC-BRANCHED-ENDOVASCULAR-GRAFT-REPAIR-LEFT-SUBCLAVIAN-FENESTRATION

CPT 33882: Thoracic Branched Endovascular Aortic Graft Repair

CPT-33883-THORACIC-AORTA-PROXIMAL-ENDOGRAFT-EXTENSION

CPT 33883: Thoracic Aorta Proximal Endograft Extension

CPT-33886-THORACIC-AORTIC-DISTAL-EXTENSION-ENDOGRAFT

CPT 33886: Thoracic Aortic Distal Extension Endograft Placement

Frequently Asked Questions

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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CPT 33881: Endovascular Repair of Thoracic Aorta, No Left Subclavian Coverage

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Billing Code Overview

OpenPayer

CPT 33881: Endovascular Repair of Thoracic Aorta, No Left Subclavian Coverage

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Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

CPT 33881: Endovascular Repair of Thoracic Aorta, No Left Subclavian Coverage

Sign up for cpt 33881 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

CPT 33881: Endovascular Repair of Thoracic Aorta, No Left Subclavian Coverage

Sign up for cpt 33881 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What clinical procedure and components does CPT 33881 represent?

Which modifiers commonly apply to CPT 33881 and when should they be used?

What related CPT codes should be considered when coding around CPT 33881?

Which ICD-10 diagnoses are commonly linked to CPT 33881?

Where is CPT 33881 typically performed and which payers are referenced for coverage?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What clinical procedure and components does CPT 33881 represent?

Which modifiers commonly apply to CPT 33881 and when should they be used?

What related CPT codes should be considered when coding around CPT 33881?

Which ICD-10 diagnoses are commonly linked to CPT 33881?

Where is CPT 33881 typically performed and which payers are referenced for coverage?

References