Summary & Overview
CPT 33895: Endovascular Aortic Coarctation Stent Placement
CPT code 33895 covers minimally invasive, endovascular placement of an aortic stent to treat coarctation that does not cross major aortic side branches. This procedure is an important option in congenital and acquired aortic narrowing, offering a less invasive alternative to open repair and often used across pediatric and adult cardiovascular programs. Nationally, the code is relevant to hospitals, interventional cardiology and vascular surgery teams, and payers managing high-cost vascular interventions.
Key payers included in the analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical and billing overview, typical sites of service, and discussion of common modifiers and service-line context. The publication identifies benchmark considerations and typical utilization themes for endovascular coarctation stenting, and summarizes the clinical context in which 33895 is applied.
The report is intended for coding professionals, hospital billing managers, and clinical leaders seeking clarity on the clinical intent and billing alignment for endovascular aortic coarctation stent placement. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 33895 describes a minimally invasive endovascular placement of an aortic stent for coarctation. The procedure involves using catheter-based techniques to deploy a stent (tube) within the aorta to treat a narrowing generally present at birth. The stent placement, as defined by this code, does not cross one or more major side branches of the aorta.
Service type: Endovascular stent placement for aortic coarctation (minimally invasive interventional cardiology/vascular surgery procedure)
Typical site of service: Hospital inpatient or outpatient interventional suites and specialized catheterization laboratories
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 14-year-old adolescent with a history of congenital aortic coarctation presents with exertional chest pain, hypertension of the upper extremities, and diminished femoral pulses. Imaging with echocardiography and CT angiography confirms a discrete post-ductal aortic narrowing amenable to endovascular therapy. The patient is evaluated by a pediatric interventional cardiologist and an anesthesiologist, consents to a minimally invasive transcatheter repair, and is brought to a hybrid operating room or cardiac catheterization laboratory.
During the procedure, vascular access is obtained (commonly via the femoral artery). Aortic angiography defines the coarctation segment and major branch takeoffs. A balloon-expandable or self-expanding stent is positioned across the narrowed segment using fluoroscopic guidance and deployed so that it does not cross one or more major aortic side branches. Hemostasis is achieved at the access site and the patient is monitored post-procedure in a post-anesthesia care unit or pediatric cardiac recovery area. Typical workflow includes pre-procedure evaluation, sedation or general anesthesia, intraprocedural imaging and hemodynamic assessment, stent deployment, and post-procedure observation with blood pressure management and access site checks.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier — standard reporting | Used when no modifier applies and the service is reported as performed without special circumstances |