Summary & Overview
CPT 35372: Deep Femoral Artery Thrombectomy/Endarterectomy
CPT code 35372 represents surgical removal of thrombus and atherosclerotic plaque from the deep femoral artery. This vascular procedure addresses acute or chronic limb-threatening ischemia and symptomatic peripheral arterial disease involving the profunda femoris vessel. The code matters nationally because it captures resource use for limb-salvage and revascularization interventions that affect patient outcomes and major payer expenditures.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a clinical and billing overview of the procedure, nationally relevant benchmark context, and the types of service settings where the code is typically reported. The analysis highlights expected use cases for 35372, common service lines, and how this procedure fits into vascular surgery and interventional radiology care pathways.
This publication provides benchmarks for utilization and reimbursement patterns, notes relevant coding relationships, and summarizes policy considerations that influence coverage and billing for deep femoral artery thrombectomy/endarterectomy. Data not available in the input will be identified explicitly where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 35372 describes a procedure in which the provider removes thrombus and plaques from the deep femoral artery. This is an endovascular or open arterial thrombectomy/endarterectomy type service targeted specifically at the deep femoral (profunda femoris) arterial segment.
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Service type: Arterial thrombectomy/endarterectomy
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Typical site of service: Hospital inpatient or outpatient vascular surgery setting; may also be performed in an interventional radiology or hybrid operating room depending on clinical complexity and institutional resources.
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 68-year-old male with a history of peripheral arterial disease, tobacco use, and type 2 diabetes presents with worsening right thigh claudication and diminished distal pulses. Noninvasive testing (ABI and arterial duplex) demonstrates significant flow limitation in the profunda femoris (deep femoral) distribution, and angiography confirms an acute on chronic thrombus and atherosclerotic plaque burden isolated to the deep femoral artery. The vascular surgeon performs a targeted open thrombectomy/endarterectomy of the deep femoral artery under monitored anesthesia care in an operating room. The procedure includes arterial exposure, Fogarty catheter thrombus extraction, selective plaque removal, and vessel repair or patch angioplasty as indicated. Postoperative care includes vascular monitoring, anticoagulation management, and follow-up ankle-brachial index and duplex ultrasound to confirm patency.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the physician's professional service portion separate from technical facility charges. |
50 | Bilateral procedure | Use if the procedure is performed on both left and right deep femoral arteries during the same operative session. |