Summary & Overview
CPT 33959: Pediatric Peripheral Cannula Repositioning with Fluoroscopy
CPT code 33959 covers open surgical repositioning of a peripheral cannula for extracorporeal circulation in children from birth through five years, performed with fluoroscopic guidance. This code captures a specialized pediatric surgical procedure that supports extracorporeal life support or cardiopulmonary bypass circuits and is clinically significant due to its use in high-acuity neonatal and infant care. Nationally, precise coding for such procedures affects case classification, resource tracking, and payment consistency across pediatric surgical centers.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical context for the procedure, expected sites of service, and payer coverage scope. The publication outlines common modifier usage patterns and related billing considerations where available, and provides benchmarks and policy context when present.
The report is intended for coders, billing managers, and policy analysts seeking clarity on clinical intent and coding application for 33959. It highlights operational implications for hospitals and pediatric surgical programs, and points to areas where payer policy alignment may affect claim adjudication. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 33959 describes the open surgical repositioning of a peripheral cannula for extracorporeal circulation in a pediatric patient from birth through five years of age. The procedure includes the use of fluoroscopic guidance as part of the intervention.
Service type: Surgical repositioning of extracorporeal cannula with fluoroscopic guidance
Typical site of service: Inpatient or operating room setting
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A realistic patient scenario involves a child aged 2 years with a congenital heart defect who requires extracorporeal circulation for cardiopulmonary bypass and has a malpositioned peripheral cannula identified during intraoperative fluoroscopy. The surgical team plans an open repositioning of the peripheral cannula under fluoroscopic guidance to restore optimal flow for extracorporeal support. The workflow includes preoperative assessment by pediatric cardiology and anesthesiology, intraoperative fluoroscopic localization and open surgical exposure of the cannula, careful cannula repositioning or replacement, confirmation of flow and position with fluoroscopy and hemodynamic monitoring, and postoperative transfer to the pediatric intensive care unit for monitoring of perfusion, cannula function, anticoagulation, and wound care. Typical site of service is an operating room in a children’s hospital or tertiary care center providing cardiothoracic surgery and extracorporeal support for patients from birth through five years of age. The service type is an open surgical procedure with intraoperative fluoroscopic guidance for extracorporeal cannula management in a pediatric population.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Office or other outpatient visit | When performed in an outpatient setting and local payer requires the modifier to indicate the usual service (rare for this code). |