Summary & Overview
CPT 33910: Pulmonary Artery Embolectomy with Cardiopulmonary Bypass
CPT code 33910 represents an urgent cardiothoracic surgical embolectomy performed to remove an acute embolus obstructing the pulmonary artery; the procedure is performed with cardiopulmonary bypass and is indicated for life‑threatening pulmonary embolism. This code is clinically significant because it denotes a high‑acuity, resource‑intensive intervention that typically occurs in the operating room and carries substantial implications for hospital staffing, perioperative care, and payer coverage for emergent cardiothoracic services.
Key payers included in the national analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Coverage and payment policies for CPT code 33910 affect access to emergent surgical care for massive pulmonary embolism and influence hospital billing workflows for cardiothoracic surgery departments.
Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context, typical site of service, and the service type tied to this code. The publication summarizes benchmarking and payment considerations where available, highlights relevant policy and clinical practice implications for high‑acuity surgical thrombectomy, and outlines common operational factors for coding and claims processing. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 33910 describes an urgent surgical procedure to remove an embolus or blockage from the pulmonary artery. The service addresses a life‑threatening pulmonary embolism caused by a thrombus that travels from the venous system to obstruct blood flow in the lungs. The procedure includes use of cardiopulmonary bypass as part of the surgical approach.
Service type: Urgent/emergency cardiothoracic surgical thrombectomy
Typical site of service: Inpatient hospital — operating room with cardiothoracic surgery capability and cardiopulmonary bypass support
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 58-year-old patient presents to the emergency department with sudden-onset severe dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, hypotension, and signs of right ventricular strain on electrocardiogram. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography demonstrates a large saddle pulmonary embolus with near-complete obstruction of the main pulmonary artery and evidence of hemodynamic instability. The cardiothoracic surgery team is consulted and determines that an urgent pulmonary embolectomy with cardiopulmonary bypass is indicated due to contraindication or failure of systemic thrombolysis and ongoing circulatory collapse. The clinical workflow includes rapid stabilization in the ED, activation of the OR/emergency operating room, induction of general anesthesia, median sternotomy, institution of cardiopulmonary bypass, direct surgical removal of the embolus from pulmonary arteries, hemostasis, decannulation, chest closure, and postoperative transfer to the cardiovascular intensive care unit for close hemodynamic and respiratory monitoring.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No surgical modifiers applicable | Used when no modifier applies and standard reporting is required |
11 | Primary procedure |