Summary & Overview
CPT 35141: Femoral Artery Aneurysm or Pseudoaneurysm Repair
CPT code 35141 represents surgical repair of a femoral artery aneurysm or pseudoaneurysm via a thigh incision with direct vessel repair or graft placement. This vascular surgical code is used nationally for invasive management of femoral artery lesions that require open repair rather than endovascular techniques. Accurate coding for this service affects clinical documentation, operative reporting, and reimbursement pathways across hospital and ambulatory surgical settings.
Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication provides a concise national perspective on how CPT code 35141 is applied in clinical practice and billed across major payers.
Readers will find: an explanation of the clinical context for open femoral artery repair; typical sites of service and procedural elements that affect coding; common modifiers and administrative considerations (list provided); and a summary of payer coverage patterns and benchmarking where available. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable. The overview intends to support coding professionals, surgical teams, and revenue cycle staff in understanding the procedural scope and administrative context of CPT code 35141.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 35141 describes a surgical procedure in which a provider makes an incision in the thigh to access an aneurysm or pseudoaneurysm of the femoral artery and then performs direct repair or places a graft at the repair site. This procedure is a vascular surgical repair of the femoral artery aneurysm/pseudoaneurysm.
Service Type: Surgical — Vascular Repair
Typical Site of Service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 68-year-old male with a history of peripheral artery disease and hypertension who presents with a painful, pulsatile mass in the groin after femoral artery catheterization. Imaging (duplex ultrasound or CT angiography) confirms a femoral artery pseudoaneurysm measuring 3.0 cm with expansion and persistent pain. The vascular surgery team evaluates the patient in the preoperative clinic, reviews anticoagulation and cardiac risk, obtains informed consent, and schedules an open repair. In the operating room under general or regional anesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision in the thigh to expose the common or superficial femoral artery, controls the proximal and distal artery, evacuates the hematoma, and performs direct arterial repair or interposition grafting as indicated. Postoperative workflow includes monitoring for limb perfusion, management of anticoagulation, wound care, and follow-up duplex ultrasound to confirm repair integrity before discharge to home or short inpatient stay.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Normal procedural service | Use when this code represents the primary, standard service performed without complications. |
22 | Increased procedural services |