Summary & Overview
CPT 35572: Femoropopliteal Vein Harvest for Vascular Reconstruction
CPT code 35572 identifies an add–on surgical procedure for harvesting a single femoropopliteal vein to serve as an autologous conduit in vascular reconstruction of major vessels such as the aorta, vena cava, coronary arteries, or peripheral arteries. This code is relevant nationally because vein conduit harvesting is a critical component of complex vascular and cardiac reconstructions, and accurate coding affects clinical documentation, surgical care coordination, and claims adjudication.
Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for use of the code, typical sites of service, and common billing considerations. The publication summarizes benchmarks and reimbursement patterns where available, highlights recent policy clarifications that influence coverage and billing, and outlines how 35572 is reported as an add–on procedure alongside primary vascular reconstruction codes.
This summary is intended for health plan managers, hospital revenue cycle staff, coding professionals, and clinicians involved in vascular and cardiac surgery, providing concise guidance on the code’s purpose, payer landscape, and topics to review when auditing or preparing claims. Data not available in the input will be identified in the detailed sections.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 35572 is an add–on surgical procedure in which the provider harvests a single femoropopliteal vein for use in vascular reconstruction. The harvested vein may be used to reconstruct or bypass major vessels such as the aorta, vena cava, coronary arteries, or peripheral arteries.
Service type: Surgical — vascular vein harvest for conduit placement
Typical site of service: Operating room or other inpatient/outpatient surgical setting, often associated with vascular surgery suites or cardiac surgery theaters
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old male with severe peripheral arterial disease and a long-segment femoropopliteal occlusion is scheduled for vascular reconstruction using an autogenous vein conduit. The surgical team plans an open vascular reconstruction of the superficial femoral artery with extra-anatomic bypass to restore distal perfusion. The provider harvests a single femoropopliteal vein for use as the conduit to reconstruct the affected arterial segment. Preoperative workflow includes vascular lab duplex imaging, cardiopulmonary risk assessment, informed consent describing autologous vein harvest and reconstruction, and marking of the harvest site. Intraoperative steps include exposure of the femoropopliteal vein, careful dissection and removal of a single vein segment, preparation of the vein for bypass, performance of the arterial anastomoses, hemostasis, and closure of both harvest and reconstruction sites. Postoperative care includes monitoring in a post-anesthesia care unit or vascular recovery unit, anticoagulation management as indicated, wound care for both donor and recipient sites, and follow-up duplex imaging to confirm graft patency.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
62 | Two surgeons | When two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct portions of the same procedure (e.g., complex simultaneous conduit harvest and reconstruction). |