Summary & Overview
CPT 33983: Ventricular Assist Device Pump Replacement
CPT code 33983 represents the surgical replacement of the implantable pump in a previously placed ventricular assist device (VAD), specifically applicable to replacement of a pump in a single ventricle with use of cardiopulmonary bypass. This is a high-acuity cardiac surgical service typically performed in an inpatient operating room by cardiac surgery teams and matters nationally because it addresses device failure, pump malfunction, or need for pump upgrade — events with major implications for patient survival, hospital resource use, and payer spend.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical and billing context for CPT code 33983, including the service type and usual site of service. The publication outlines expected billing considerations, common modifiers, and where this procedure fits within cardiac surgical service lines. It also summarizes what stakeholders can expect regarding claims complexity and the potential need for inpatient surgical authorization and care coordination.
The article serves clinicians, coding professionals, and payers seeking a national-level reference for coding practice, administrative workflows, and the clinical setting associated with this specialized cardiac device procedure.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 33983 describes the surgical replacement of the implantable pump component of a previously placed ventricular assist device (VAD). This procedure applies when the pump in a single ventricle is replaced and is performed with the patient on cardiopulmonary bypass.
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Service type: Surgical implant replacement of a VAD pump performed under cardiopulmonary bypass
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Typical site of service: Inpatient operating room, typically within a cardiac surgery program at a hospital
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 58-year-old patient with a previously implanted left ventricular assist device (VAD) presents with device malfunction characterized by pump thrombosis and recurrent low-flow alarms despite medical management. The cardiac surgery team schedules operative replacement of the implantable pump. The patient is brought to the operating room, general endotracheal anesthesia is induced, and standard invasive monitoring is placed. The team initiates cardiopulmonary bypass to support circulation while the chest is re-opened, adhesions are dissected, the previous pump is explanted, and a new ventricular assist pump is implanted and secured to the existing inflow and outflow conduits. Hemostasis is achieved, chest tubes are placed as indicated, and the patient is transferred to the cardiac intensive care unit for postoperative management with inotropic support and device interrogation.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
62 | Two surgeons | Use when two surgeons operate together and each performs distinct portions of the procedure requiring documentation of concurrent equal participation. |
63 | Procedure performed on infants less than 4 kg | Use when the pump replacement is performed on an infant meeting the weight criterion. |