Summary & Overview
CPT 35201: Neck Vessel Repair with Suture
CPT code 35201 denotes an open surgical repair of a neck vessel in which the surgeon makes an incision over the affected vessel, controls hemorrhage, and repairs the vessel with sutures. This code captures emergency and elective vascular repair procedures focused on restoring vessel integrity and preventing exsanguination or ischemic complications. Nationally, accurate use of this code matters for clinical documentation, surgical quality measurement, and appropriate hospital billing for complex head and neck vascular interventions.
Key payers commonly involved in coverage and reimbursement for CPT code 35201 include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Payer policies may differ on prior authorization, facility payment levels, and bundling with related surgical or critical care services.
Readers will find an overview of the clinical context for neck vessel repair, typical sites of service, and the operational billing elements associated with this procedure. The publication also outlines benchmarks and policy considerations relevant to national payers, highlights common modifiers and coding practice notes, and identifies areas where documentation influences payment and quality reporting. Data not available in the input are explicitly noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 35201 describes a surgical procedure involving an incision over a neck vessel to control bleeding and perform suture repair of the vessel. This procedure is a vascular repair of a neck vessel intended to stop hemorrhage and restore vessel integrity.
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Service type: Open surgical vascular repair
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Typical site of service: Operating room or surgical suite in an inpatient or outpatient hospital setting
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 28-year-old male who sustains a penetrating knife injury to the anterior neck with visible pulsatile bleeding from a carotid branch. On arrival to the emergency department, airway and breathing are assessed, hemorrhage control is attempted with direct pressure, and the patient is rapidly prepared for operative exploration. Vascular surgery or a trauma surgeon performs an incision over the involved neck vessel, controls bleeding with proximal and distal vascular control, and performs primary vessel repair using fine interrupted or running vascular suture. The workflow includes preoperative consent, general anesthesia in an operating room, intraoperative vascular repair with possible intraoperative imaging or completion angiography, postoperative monitoring in a postanesthesia care unit or intensive care setting, and follow-up for neurovascular status and wound healing. This procedure is commonly billed when an open repair of a neck vessel is required to stop hemorrhage and restore vessel integrity.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when work, time, and complexity substantially exceed usual for the procedure (document details). |
23 |