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CPT 36833: Arteriovenous Fistula Revision with Thrombectomy

CPT code 36833 denotes a surgical arteriovenous fistula (AVF) revision with thrombectomy — a procedure that reopens and revises the artery-to-vein connection used for hemodialysis while removing an obstructing thrombus. Nationally, this code is important for dialysis access maintenance, affecting outpatient surgical services, vascular surgery workflows, and dialysis program capacity. It is commonly billed when patients present with AVF thrombosis or access dysfunction requiring operative repair.

Key payers covered in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will gain a concise clinical and billing overview of CPT code 36833, including the primary service type, typical site of service, and why the procedure matters for dialysis-dependent populations. The publication also summarizes common billing practices and benchmarking context where available and highlights the clinical circumstances that prompt use of this code. Where input data is missing, the report notes that specific details are not available in the input.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 36833 describes a surgical procedure to open and revise an arteriovenous fistula, including removal of thrombus (thrombectomy) and revision of the artery-to-vein connection. An arteriovenous fistula is a surgically created connection between an artery and a vein, most commonly in the forearm or upper arm, used to provide reliable vascular access for hemodialysis.

Service Type: Surgical vascular revision with thrombectomy

Typical Site of Service: Operating room or ambulatory surgical center, commonly performed in hospital outpatient settings or same-day surgery centers where vascular surgery for dialysis access is provided.

Data not available in the input for additional fields such as associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, or related codes.

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CPT 36833: Arteriovenous Fistula Revision with Thrombectomy

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Billing Code Overview

Service Type: Surgical vascular revision with thrombectomy

Data not available in the input for additional fields such as associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, or related codes.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 62-year-old patient with end-stage renal disease on maintenance hemodialysis via a left forearm autogenous arteriovenous fistula presents with sudden loss of thrill and poor dialysis flows. Duplex ultrasound confirms acute thrombosis of the fistula with a narrowed venous anastomosis. The vascular surgeon schedules an operative revision of the fistula, performs surgical exploration and revision of the arteriovenous anastomosis, and obtains a thrombectomy to remove the intraluminal clot to restore flow. The procedure is performed in an operating room setting with conscious sedation or general anesthesia, perioperative anticoagulation management, and intraoperative assessment of thrill and flow. Postoperative workflow includes vascular access monitoring, wound care instructions, and coordination with the patient’s dialysis center for early use and flow reassessment.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`22`	Increased Procedural Services	Use when the work, time, or technical difficulty substantially exceeds typical for `36833`. Documentation must justify increased effort.
`26`	Professional Component	Use if billing only the physician’s professional interpretation component separate from facility or technical services.
`52`	Reduced Services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally planned.
`53`	Discontinued Procedure	Use when the procedure is started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances.
`59`	Distinct Procedural Service	Use to indicate a separate, distinct procedure or service not normally reported together with `36833`.
`62`	Two Surgeons/Co-surgery	Use when two surgeons work together as primary surgeons, each performing distinct portions of the procedure.
`66`	Professional Services/Mult. Providers	Use when multiple physicians from the same group report co-management or shared professional services per payer rules.
`78`	Return to OR for Related Procedure by Same Physician	Use when the patient returns to the operating room for a related complication of the original `36833` during the global period.
`79`	Unrelated Procedure or Service by the Same Physician During the Postoperative Period	Use when an unrelated procedure is performed during the global period of `36833`.
`LT`	Left Side	Use to indicate the procedure was performed on the left-sided access (arm).
`RT`	Right Side	Use to indicate the procedure was performed on the right-sided access (arm).
`AS`	Left or Right as Appropriate (Ambulatory Surgery)	Use in ambulatory setting to indicate laterality when required by specific payers.
`QK`	Medical Direction of Two, Three, or Four Qualified Individuals	Use when the surgeon medically directs a surgical team to perform portions of the procedure under their direction per anesthesia/QK rules.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207P00000X	Vascular Surgery	Primary specialty performing surgical fistula revision and thrombectomy.
207L00000X	General Surgery	General surgeons with vascular practice perform AVF revisions in some centers.
207RH0000X	Interventional Cardiology	Interventionalists may perform endovascular thrombectomy/angioplasty alternatives; surgical revision still performed by vascular surgeons.
174400000X	Nephrology	Nephrologists coordinate dialysis access care and refer for surgical intervention; do not perform `36833`.
207K00000X	Thoracic & Cardiac Surgery	Rarely involved for upper-arm accesses when complex reconstructive access is required.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I82.401`	Acute embolism and thrombosis of unspecified deep veins of right lower extremity	Data not available in the input.
`I82.402`	Acute embolism and thrombosis of unspecified deep veins of left lower extremity	Data not available in the input.
`N18.6`	End stage renal disease	Common underlying condition necessitating hemodialysis access and indication for AV fistula revision when thrombosed.
`T82.8XXA`	Other complications of cardiac and vascular prosthetic devices, implants and grafts, initial encounter	Used when the fistula is a vascular access graft or presents device-related complication requiring revision.
`I74.2`	Embolism and thrombosis of arteries of the upper extremity	Represents arterial thrombosis that may be relevant in vascular access complications.
`I80.9`	Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of unspecified site	General code related to thrombotic complications affecting venous access.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`36901`	Endovascular thrombectomy, open or percutaneous, required for dialysis access; initial radiologic procedure for dialysis conduit	May be performed as an endovascular alternative to surgical thrombectomy or in combination when hybrid repair is needed.
`36831`	Repair of arteriovenous fistula, with thrombectomy; revision of anastomosis, other than dialysis access creation	Closely related; used for similar access revisions depending on specific technique and extent.
`36903`	Endovascular dialysis access revision with angioplasty and/or stent placement	Performed when stenosis is treated by angioplasty/stenting rather than open surgical revision; often alternate or adjunctive.
`36556`	Insertion of tunneled central venous catheter, for dialysis	May be used when temporary central venous access is required if fistula is nonfunctional postoperatively.
`99223`	Initial hospital care, high severity	Typical evaluation and management code for preoperative or immediate postoperative inpatient physician care for complex patients undergoing `36833`.

CPT 36800: Insertion of Cannulae into Two Veins for Hemodialysis

CPT-36810-HEMODIALYSIS-SCRIBNER-TYPE-CANNULATION

CPT 36810: External Scribner-Type Cannulation for Hemodialysis

CPT-36815-HEMODIALYSIS-CANNULA-REPOSITIONING-OR-REMOVAL

CPT 36815: Hemodialysis Cannula Repositioning or Removal

CPT-36818-CEPHALIC-TO-BRACHIAL-ARTERIOVENOUS-ANASTOMOSIS-UPPER-ARM

CPT 36818: Cephalic-to-Brachial Arteriovenous Anastomosis for Hemodialysis

CPT-36819-BASILIC-TO-BRACHIAL-AV-FISTULA-CREATION-UPPER-ARM

CPT 36819: Basilic-to-Brachial AV Fistula Creation for Hemodialysis

CPT-36820-ARTERIOVENOUS-ANASTOMOSIS-FOREARM-FISTULA-CREATION

CPT 36820: Arteriovenous Anastomosis (Forearm) for Hemodialysis

CPT-36821-ARTERIOVENOUS-ANASTOMOSIS-FOR-HEMODIALYSIS-ACCESS

CPT 36821: Arteriovenous Anastomosis for Hemodialysis Vascular Access

CPT-36823-ISOLATED-EXTRACORPOREAL-REGIONAL-CHEMOTHERAPY-PERFUSION-EXTREMITY

CPT 36823: Isolated Extracorporeal Regional Chemotherapy Perfusion, Extremity

CPT-36825-ARTERIOVENOUS-FISTULA-AUTOGENOUS-VEIN-GRAFT

CPT 36825: Arteriovenous Fistula with Autogenous Vein Graft

CPT-36830-ARTERIOVENOUS-FISTULA-NONAUTOGENOUS-GRAFT-HEMODIALYSIS-ACCESS

CPT 36830: Arteriovenous Fistula with Nonautogenous Graft for Hemodialysis

Showing 1–10 of 18

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`22`	Increased Procedural Services	Use when the work, time, or technical difficulty substantially exceeds typical for `36833`. Documentation must justify increased effort.
`26`	Professional Component	Use if billing only the physician’s professional interpretation component separate from facility or technical services.
`52`	Reduced Services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally planned.
`53`	Discontinued Procedure	Use when the procedure is started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances.
`59`	Distinct Procedural Service	Use to indicate a separate, distinct procedure or service not normally reported together with `36833`.
`62`	Two Surgeons/Co-surgery	Use when two surgeons work together as primary surgeons, each performing distinct portions of the procedure.
`66`	Professional Services/Mult. Providers	Use when multiple physicians from the same group report co-management or shared professional services per payer rules.
`78`	Return to OR for Related Procedure by Same Physician	Use when the patient returns to the operating room for a related complication of the original `36833` during the global period.
`79`	Unrelated Procedure or Service by the Same Physician During the Postoperative Period	Use when an unrelated procedure is performed during the global period of `36833`.
`LT`	Left Side	Use to indicate the procedure was performed on the left-sided access (arm).
`RT`	Right Side	Use to indicate the procedure was performed on the right-sided access (arm).
`AS`	Left or Right as Appropriate (Ambulatory Surgery)	Use in ambulatory setting to indicate laterality when required by specific payers.
`QK`	Medical Direction of Two, Three, or Four Qualified Individuals	Use when the surgeon medically directs a surgical team to perform portions of the procedure under their direction per anesthesia/QK rules.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207P00000X	Vascular Surgery	Primary specialty performing surgical fistula revision and thrombectomy.
207L00000X	General Surgery	General surgeons with vascular practice perform AVF revisions in some centers.
207RH0000X	Interventional Cardiology	Interventionalists may perform endovascular thrombectomy/angioplasty alternatives; surgical revision still performed by vascular surgeons.
174400000X	Nephrology	Nephrologists coordinate dialysis access care and refer for surgical intervention; do not perform `36833`.
207K00000X	Thoracic & Cardiac Surgery	Rarely involved for upper-arm accesses when complex reconstructive access is required.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I82.401`	Acute embolism and thrombosis of unspecified deep veins of right lower extremity	Data not available in the input.
`I82.402`	Acute embolism and thrombosis of unspecified deep veins of left lower extremity	Data not available in the input.
`N18.6`	End stage renal disease	Common underlying condition necessitating hemodialysis access and indication for AV fistula revision when thrombosed.
`T82.8XXA`	Other complications of cardiac and vascular prosthetic devices, implants and grafts, initial encounter	Used when the fistula is a vascular access graft or presents device-related complication requiring revision.
`I74.2`	Embolism and thrombosis of arteries of the upper extremity	Represents arterial thrombosis that may be relevant in vascular access complications.
`I80.9`	Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of unspecified site	General code related to thrombotic complications affecting venous access.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`36901`	Endovascular thrombectomy, open or percutaneous, required for dialysis access; initial radiologic procedure for dialysis conduit	May be performed as an endovascular alternative to surgical thrombectomy or in combination when hybrid repair is needed.
`36831`	Repair of arteriovenous fistula, with thrombectomy; revision of anastomosis, other than dialysis access creation	Closely related; used for similar access revisions depending on specific technique and extent.
`36903`	Endovascular dialysis access revision with angioplasty and/or stent placement	Performed when stenosis is treated by angioplasty/stenting rather than open surgical revision; often alternate or adjunctive.
`36556`	Insertion of tunneled central venous catheter, for dialysis	May be used when temporary central venous access is required if fistula is nonfunctional postoperatively.
`99223`	Initial hospital care, high severity	Typical evaluation and management code for preoperative or immediate postoperative inpatient physician care for complex patients undergoing `36833`.

CPT 36800: Insertion of Cannulae into Two Veins for Hemodialysis

CPT-36810-HEMODIALYSIS-SCRIBNER-TYPE-CANNULATION

CPT 36810: External Scribner-Type Cannulation for Hemodialysis

CPT-36815-HEMODIALYSIS-CANNULA-REPOSITIONING-OR-REMOVAL

CPT 36815: Hemodialysis Cannula Repositioning or Removal

CPT-36818-CEPHALIC-TO-BRACHIAL-ARTERIOVENOUS-ANASTOMOSIS-UPPER-ARM

CPT 36818: Cephalic-to-Brachial Arteriovenous Anastomosis for Hemodialysis

CPT-36819-BASILIC-TO-BRACHIAL-AV-FISTULA-CREATION-UPPER-ARM

CPT 36819: Basilic-to-Brachial AV Fistula Creation for Hemodialysis

CPT-36820-ARTERIOVENOUS-ANASTOMOSIS-FOREARM-FISTULA-CREATION

CPT 36820: Arteriovenous Anastomosis (Forearm) for Hemodialysis

CPT-36821-ARTERIOVENOUS-ANASTOMOSIS-FOR-HEMODIALYSIS-ACCESS

CPT 36821: Arteriovenous Anastomosis for Hemodialysis Vascular Access

CPT-36823-ISOLATED-EXTRACORPOREAL-REGIONAL-CHEMOTHERAPY-PERFUSION-EXTREMITY

CPT 36823: Isolated Extracorporeal Regional Chemotherapy Perfusion, Extremity

CPT-36825-ARTERIOVENOUS-FISTULA-AUTOGENOUS-VEIN-GRAFT

CPT 36825: Arteriovenous Fistula with Autogenous Vein Graft

CPT-36830-ARTERIOVENOUS-FISTULA-NONAUTOGENOUS-GRAFT-HEMODIALYSIS-ACCESS

CPT 36830: Arteriovenous Fistula with Nonautogenous Graft for Hemodialysis

Showing 1–10 of 18

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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 36833: Arteriovenous Fistula Revision with Thrombectomy

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Billing Code Overview

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CPT 36833: Arteriovenous Fistula Revision with Thrombectomy

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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

CPT 36833: Arteriovenous Fistula Revision with Thrombectomy

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Billing Code Overview

CPT 36833: Arteriovenous Fistula Revision with Thrombectomy

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Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What does CPT 36833 represent and where is it typically performed?

Which modifiers are commonly relevant when billing CPT 36833 and when should modifier 22 be used?

What related CPT codes should I consider when coding dialysis access thrombectomy or revision?

Which specialties typically perform CPT 36833 and what roles do other specialties play?

What diagnoses and clinical scenarios are associated with billing CPT 36833?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What does CPT 36833 represent and where is it typically performed?

Which modifiers are commonly relevant when billing CPT 36833 and when should modifier 22 be used?

What related CPT codes should I consider when coding dialysis access thrombectomy or revision?

Which specialties typically perform CPT 36833 and what roles do other specialties play?

What diagnoses and clinical scenarios are associated with billing CPT 36833?

References