Summary & Overview
CPT 35341: Removal of Thrombus and Plaque from Mesenteric/Celiac/Renal Artery
CPT code 35341 denotes removal of thrombus and plaque from a mesenteric, celiac, or renal artery and represents an acute vascular intervention for visceral or renal arterial occlusive disease. This code is used for procedures that restore perfusion to mesenteric, celiac, or renal territories and can be performed via open surgical or endovascular approaches in hospital-based settings. Nationally, the code is relevant for management of acute mesenteric ischemia, renal artery thrombosis, and atherosclerotic disease causing organ ischemia; timely and appropriate coding affects claims processing and clinical reporting.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The analysis addresses coding context, site-of-service implications, and common billing patterns observed across these payers. Data not available in the input is explicitly omitted where applicable.
Readers will learn the clinical scope of CPT code 35341, expected service setting, and the high-level policy and billing considerations that influence reimbursement and utilization tracking. The publication provides benchmarks, coding guidance context, and notes on payer coverage trends and prior authorization patterns where publicly reported. It is written for national audiences involved in vascular surgery, interventional radiology, hospital billing, and payer policy.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 35341 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider removes thrombus and atherosclerotic plaque from a mesenteric, celiac, or renal artery. The service is an endovascular or open arterial thrombectomy/endarterectomy targeting visceral or renal arterial circulation.
Service type: Surgical vascular intervention
Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or interventional radiology suite (inpatient or outpatient hospital setting)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 62-year-old with acute onset abdominal pain, nausea, and elevated lactate found on CT angiography to have thromboembolism of the superior mesenteric artery. The vascular surgery and interventional radiology teams collaborate: the patient is taken to an angiography suite or hybrid operating room for endovascular thrombectomy of the mesenteric artery under fluoroscopic guidance. Pre-procedure workflow includes informed consent, review of anticoagulation/antiplatelet status, baseline labs (CBC, CMP, coagulation panel), and arterial access planning (common femoral or radial). Intra-procedural steps include arterial access, catheter-directed angiography to localize thrombus/plaque, mechanical and/or aspiration thrombectomy and/or thrombectomy devices to remove clot and plaque, and completion angiography to confirm flow restoration. Post-procedure care includes monitoring in a post-anesthesia care unit or intensive care unit, serial abdominal exams, repeat lactate/hematology studies, and anticoagulation management. Typical sites of service are the hospital operating room, interventional radiology suite, or hybrid endovascular suite.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier (default) | Use when no special reporting modifier applies |
11 |