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CPT 35700: Reoperation on Arterial Bypass Graft

CPT code 35700 captures surgical reoperation on an arterial bypass graft performed more than one month after the initial graft placement to relieve a stricture or to replace a failing graft that circumvents an obstructed arterial segment. Nationally, this code is important for tracking complex vascular surgical care, postoperative complications requiring reintervention, and resource use associated with graft salvage or replacement. Common settings include hospital operating rooms and inpatient vascular surgery services.

Key payers included in this review are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of what the code represents, clinical context for when reoperation is reported, and the payer landscape relevant to coverage and billing practice. The analysis also presents benchmarks and policy considerations tied to surgical reintervention, coding clarity for reporting the additional technical effort of graft reaccess and repair, and implications for utilization monitoring. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 35700 describes a surgical reoperation on an arterial bypass graft performed more than one month after the original graft placement. The procedure addresses a graft stricture or replaces a failing graft that bypasses a diseased or obstructed arterial segment. This service reflects the additional work required to reaccess and repair or replace an existing arterial bypass graft.

Service type: Surgical reoperation on arterial bypass graft
Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or inpatient surgical setting

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CPT 35700: Reoperation on Arterial Bypass Graft

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Surgical reoperation on arterial bypass graft
Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or inpatient surgical setting

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 68-year-old male with a prior femoropopliteal arterial bypass performed 14 months earlier presents with progressive claudication and a Doppler ultrasound showing high-grade stenosis of the bypass graft anastomosis. After noninvasive evaluation and duplex-confirmed graft stricture, the vascular surgeon schedules a reoperation to surgically revise and reaccess the bypass graft to restore patency. The procedure requires reentry into the previous operative field, control of the vessel and graft, removal of the stenotic segment, and either patch angioplasty or graft segment replacement. Intraoperative events include exposure of the graft, assessment of inflow and outflow, possible thrombectomy if thrombus is present, and placement of a new graft segment or revision of the anastomosis. Postoperative workflow includes monitoring in a recovery unit, vascular exam documentation, Doppler signals assessment, pain control, and instructions for anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy as indicated. Coding uses 35700 to report the additional operative work to reaccess and repair or replace the arterial bypass graft more than one month after the initial placement.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`22`	Increased procedural services	When work or time substantially exceeds usual for `35700` due to extensive dissection or unexpected complexity
`23`	Unusual anesthesia — not normally required	When general anesthesia is medically necessary for `35700` though local/regional is typical
`26`	Professional component	When reporting only the physician’s professional component separate from facility billing (rare for this surgical procedure)
`50`	Bilateral procedure	If the reoperation is performed on bypass grafts on both limbs during the same session
`52`	Reduced services	When a planned portion of `35700` is partially reduced or not completed without meeting criteria for `53`
`53`	Discontinued procedure	When the procedure is started but terminated for reasons not related to patient condition (e.g., intraop equipment failure)
`62`	Two surgeons	When two surgeons work together as primary surgeons on the same operative session for `35700`
`78`	Return to OR for related procedure during global period	When the patient returns to the operating room for a related complication of the original `35700` within the global period
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service	When an unrelated procedure is performed during the same operative session as `35700`
`80`	Assistant surgeon	When an assistant surgeon provides assistance during `35700` and an assistant fee is reported
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	When a qualified assistant provides minimal assistance during `35700`
`82`	Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident not available)	When a nonresident assistant surgeon is required because a qualified resident is unavailable
`AS`	Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist	When a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist performs part or all of a billable portion under supervising surgeon policies
`CQ`	Service furnished under an alternative payment demonstration	When the service is delivered under a CMS demonstration using this modifier

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2080S0106X	Vascular Surgery	Primary specialty performing bypass graft revision and reoperation
207K00000X	Cardiothoracic-Vascular Surgery	Surgeons who manage complex arterial grafts and peripheral bypass revisions
207L00000X	General Surgery	General surgeons with vascular expertise who perform graft revisions
363A00000X	Interventional Cardiology	May be involved for catheter-based interventions prior to or instead of open reoperation
363LF0000X	Interventional Radiology	Provides endovascular assessment or adjunct procedures in the same episode of care

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I70.219`	Atherosclerosis of native arteries of the extremities, unspecified, with intermittent claudication	Common underlying cause leading to peripheral bypass and subsequent graft restenosis requiring reoperation
`I74.3`	Embolism and thrombosis of arteries of lower extremities	Thrombosis of a bypass graft can necessitate surgical re-exploration and thrombectomy or graft revision
`I77.2`	Stricture of artery	Graft or anastomotic stricture is a direct indication for `35700` to open or replace the graft
`T82.4XXA`	Mechanical complication of vascular graft, initial encounter	Covers graft-related mechanical complications such as kinking, fracture, or infection leading to reoperation
`I83.10`	Varicose veins of lower extremities with unspecified complications	Included when venous issues impact graft function or access in complex cases
`Z98.890`	Other specified postprocedural states	Documents history of prior bypass graft placement and ongoing surveillance needs

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`35301`	Exploration, graft; for thrombosis or infection of graft without replacement	Used when surgical exploration and thrombectomy of a bypass graft is performed instead of or prior to graft replacement during reoperation
`35476`	Revision, arteriovenous anastomosis; for hemodialysis access	Different anatomic context but similar technical concepts; listed when venous access revisions are part of vascular practice workflows
`35666`	Excision of arterial graft with replacement (eg, femoral to posterior tibial)	Performed when the graft segment is excised and replaced — closely related to `35700` when full graft replacement is required
`37220`	Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, lower extremity; initial vessel	Related endovascular alternative; may be performed before or instead of open graft revision
`36011`	Introduction of catheter, arterial; for diagnostic angiography	Often performed preoperatively or intraoperatively for angiographic assessment of graft patency
`93971`	Duplex scan of extremity arteries, bilateral study	Preoperative and postoperative noninvasive testing commonly used in evaluation and surveillance surrounding `35700`

CPT 35701: Neck Artery Exploration and Scar Tissue Removal

CPT-35702-UPPER-EXTREMITY-VASCULAR-EXPLORATION-NO-REPAIR

CPT 35702: Upper Extremity Vascular Exploration, No Repair

CPT-35703-LOWER-EXTREMITY-ARTERIAL-EXPLORATION-NO-REPAIR

CPT 35703: Exploratory Lower-Extremity Arterial Procedure Without Repair

CPT-35800-NECK-WOUND-EXPLORATION-CONTROL-BLEEDING-INFECTION

CPT 35800: Neck Exploration for Bleeding, Clot, or Infection

CPT-35820-REOPEN-CHEST-TO-CONTROL-BLEEDING-CLOTTING-INFECTION

CPT 35820: Reopen Chest to Control Bleeding, Clotting, or Infection

CPT-35840-ABDOMINAL-RE-EXPLORATION-FOR-BLEEDING-OR-INFECTION

CPT 35840: Abdominal Re-exploration for Bleeding or Infection

CPT-35860-EXTREMITY-RE-EXPLORATION-FOR-BLEEDING-CLOTTING-INFECTION

CPT 35860: Re-exploration of Arm or Leg for Bleeding, Clotting, or Infection

CPT-35870-GRAFT-ENTERIC-FISTULA-REPAIR

CPT 35870: Repair of Vascular Graft‑to‑Intestine Fistula

CPT-35875-VASCULAR-GRAFT-THROMBECTOMY-NON-HEMODIALYSIS

CPT 35875: Removal of Clot from Non-Hemodialysis Vascular Graft

CPT-35876-CLOTTED-VASCULAR-GRAFT-REVISION-PATCHING

CPT 35876: Revision of Clotted Vascular Graft, Including Patching

Showing 1–10 of 18

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

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Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`22`	Increased procedural services	When work or time substantially exceeds usual for `35700` due to extensive dissection or unexpected complexity
`23`	Unusual anesthesia — not normally required	When general anesthesia is medically necessary for `35700` though local/regional is typical
`26`	Professional component	When reporting only the physician’s professional component separate from facility billing (rare for this surgical procedure)
`50`	Bilateral procedure	If the reoperation is performed on bypass grafts on both limbs during the same session
`52`	Reduced services	When a planned portion of `35700` is partially reduced or not completed without meeting criteria for `53`
`53`	Discontinued procedure	When the procedure is started but terminated for reasons not related to patient condition (e.g., intraop equipment failure)
`62`	Two surgeons	When two surgeons work together as primary surgeons on the same operative session for `35700`
`78`	Return to OR for related procedure during global period	When the patient returns to the operating room for a related complication of the original `35700` within the global period
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service	When an unrelated procedure is performed during the same operative session as `35700`
`80`	Assistant surgeon	When an assistant surgeon provides assistance during `35700` and an assistant fee is reported
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	When a qualified assistant provides minimal assistance during `35700`
`82`	Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident not available)	When a nonresident assistant surgeon is required because a qualified resident is unavailable
`AS`	Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist	When a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist performs part or all of a billable portion under supervising surgeon policies
`CQ`	Service furnished under an alternative payment demonstration	When the service is delivered under a CMS demonstration using this modifier

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2080S0106X	Vascular Surgery	Primary specialty performing bypass graft revision and reoperation
207K00000X	Cardiothoracic-Vascular Surgery	Surgeons who manage complex arterial grafts and peripheral bypass revisions
207L00000X	General Surgery	General surgeons with vascular expertise who perform graft revisions
363A00000X	Interventional Cardiology	May be involved for catheter-based interventions prior to or instead of open reoperation
363LF0000X	Interventional Radiology	Provides endovascular assessment or adjunct procedures in the same episode of care

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I70.219`	Atherosclerosis of native arteries of the extremities, unspecified, with intermittent claudication	Common underlying cause leading to peripheral bypass and subsequent graft restenosis requiring reoperation
`I74.3`	Embolism and thrombosis of arteries of lower extremities	Thrombosis of a bypass graft can necessitate surgical re-exploration and thrombectomy or graft revision
`I77.2`	Stricture of artery	Graft or anastomotic stricture is a direct indication for `35700` to open or replace the graft
`T82.4XXA`	Mechanical complication of vascular graft, initial encounter	Covers graft-related mechanical complications such as kinking, fracture, or infection leading to reoperation
`I83.10`	Varicose veins of lower extremities with unspecified complications	Included when venous issues impact graft function or access in complex cases
`Z98.890`	Other specified postprocedural states	Documents history of prior bypass graft placement and ongoing surveillance needs

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`35301`	Exploration, graft; for thrombosis or infection of graft without replacement	Used when surgical exploration and thrombectomy of a bypass graft is performed instead of or prior to graft replacement during reoperation
`35476`	Revision, arteriovenous anastomosis; for hemodialysis access	Different anatomic context but similar technical concepts; listed when venous access revisions are part of vascular practice workflows
`35666`	Excision of arterial graft with replacement (eg, femoral to posterior tibial)	Performed when the graft segment is excised and replaced — closely related to `35700` when full graft replacement is required
`37220`	Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, lower extremity; initial vessel	Related endovascular alternative; may be performed before or instead of open graft revision
`36011`	Introduction of catheter, arterial; for diagnostic angiography	Often performed preoperatively or intraoperatively for angiographic assessment of graft patency
`93971`	Duplex scan of extremity arteries, bilateral study	Preoperative and postoperative noninvasive testing commonly used in evaluation and surveillance surrounding `35700`

CPT 35701: Neck Artery Exploration and Scar Tissue Removal

CPT-35702-UPPER-EXTREMITY-VASCULAR-EXPLORATION-NO-REPAIR

CPT 35702: Upper Extremity Vascular Exploration, No Repair

CPT-35703-LOWER-EXTREMITY-ARTERIAL-EXPLORATION-NO-REPAIR

CPT 35703: Exploratory Lower-Extremity Arterial Procedure Without Repair

CPT-35800-NECK-WOUND-EXPLORATION-CONTROL-BLEEDING-INFECTION

CPT 35800: Neck Exploration for Bleeding, Clot, or Infection

CPT-35820-REOPEN-CHEST-TO-CONTROL-BLEEDING-CLOTTING-INFECTION

CPT 35820: Reopen Chest to Control Bleeding, Clotting, or Infection

CPT-35840-ABDOMINAL-RE-EXPLORATION-FOR-BLEEDING-OR-INFECTION

CPT 35840: Abdominal Re-exploration for Bleeding or Infection

CPT-35860-EXTREMITY-RE-EXPLORATION-FOR-BLEEDING-CLOTTING-INFECTION

CPT 35860: Re-exploration of Arm or Leg for Bleeding, Clotting, or Infection

CPT-35870-GRAFT-ENTERIC-FISTULA-REPAIR

CPT 35870: Repair of Vascular Graft‑to‑Intestine Fistula

CPT-35875-VASCULAR-GRAFT-THROMBECTOMY-NON-HEMODIALYSIS

CPT 35875: Removal of Clot from Non-Hemodialysis Vascular Graft

CPT-35876-CLOTTED-VASCULAR-GRAFT-REVISION-PATCHING

CPT 35876: Revision of Clotted Vascular Graft, Including Patching

Showing 1–10 of 18

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

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CPT 35700: Reoperation on Arterial Bypass Graft

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Billing Code Overview

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CPT 35700: Reoperation on Arterial Bypass Graft

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Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References