Summary & Overview
CPT 36860: Cannula Clot Removal Without Balloon Catheter
CPT code 36860 denotes removal of a clot from a previously placed cannula performed without a balloon catheter. Nationally relevant to hospitals and vascular/interventional service lines, this procedural code captures an acute device-associated thrombectomy that can affect inpatient and outpatient resource use, procedure coding accuracy, and clinical workflow. Key payers in the national landscape include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare and Medicare.
Readers will learn what CPT code 36860 represents clinically, the typical sites of service where it is performed, and which major payers cover such procedures. The publication outlines benchmarking considerations, common billing modifiers (provided separately), and clinical context for when a cannula thrombectomy without a balloon catheter is reported. It also highlights documentation and coding elements relevant to procedure identification. This summary is intended for coding professionals, hospital billing teams, and clinical administrators seeking a concise reference on the code’s purpose and operational implications.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 36860 describes a procedure to remove a clot from a previously placed cannula without use of a balloon catheter. The service is a thrombectomy of an indwelling cannula and is typically provided as a procedural vascular service.
Typical site of service for CPT code 36860 is an inpatient or outpatient hospital setting, including the operating room or interventional radiology suite, depending on clinical context and acuity.
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 62-year-old with end-stage renal disease who previously underwent placement of a tunneled hemodialysis cannula and now presents with acute catheter thrombosis causing inadequate dialysis flow and alarms. The patient arrives to an outpatient vascular access center or hospital interventional radiology suite for evaluation. After assessment, the interventionalist administers local anesthesia and sterile prep, accesses the existing cannula, and performs mechanical thrombectomy of the catheter lumen and the adjacent clot burden without using a balloon catheter. The procedure may be performed under fluoroscopic guidance, and the removed clot is aspirated through the cannula lumen or using dedicated thrombectomy devices that do not use balloon catheters. Post-procedure, the cannula is flushed, patency and flow assessed, and the patient is observed for bleeding, access site complications, and adequate dialysis flow prior to discharge or transfer to dialysis unit.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier; standard claim processing | Use when no special circumstances apply and no other modifier is appropriate |
11 | Normally scheduled service |