CPT 37197 Percutaneous Foreign Body Removal Reimbursement | OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

CPT 37197: Percutaneous Endovascular Foreign Body Removal

CPT code 37197 covers percutaneous endovascular removal of a foreign body from a blood vessel, with included radiological supervision and interpretation to guide catheter-based retrieval. This procedure is clinically important because retained intravascular foreign bodies — such as broken catheters, wires, or embolized devices — can cause vascular injury, infection, thrombosis, and other serious complications; timely, image-guided removal reduces those risks. Nationwide, hospitals and interventional radiology services routinely use this code when documenting catheter-based retrieval procedures performed through a percutaneous access.

Key payers discussed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context and service delivery, common billing considerations, and the typical sites of service where the procedure is performed. The publication highlights national benchmarking themes and payer coverage patterns, explains where CPT code 37197 fits within interventional vascular services, and summarizes policy and reimbursement factors that affect coding and billing for percutaneous foreign body removal. Data not available in the input will be noted as such where applicable.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare37197CPTendovascularinterventional-radiologyforeign-body-removalpercutaneousvascular-procedureradiological-supervision

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 37197 describes removal of a foreign body from a blood vessel using a catheter placed through the skin. The procedure includes radiological supervision and interpretation used to guide the catheter during retrieval.

Service type: Percutaneous endovascular foreign body removal
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department or interventional radiology suite; may also be performed in an inpatient operating or procedure room depending on clinical context

Data not available in the input.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A middle-aged patient presents to the emergency department after a central venous catheter (CVC) fracture that resulted in an intravascular catheter fragment lodged within the superior vena cava. The patient reports chest discomfort and intermittent palpitations. Imaging (chest radiograph and computed tomography venography) confirms a foreign body within a central vein. Interventional radiology is consulted and schedules a percutaneous endovascular retrieval. Under conscious sedation in an angiography suite, the interventionalist obtains venous access via the femoral vein, advances a retrieval catheter under fluoroscopic guidance, snares the catheter fragment, and removes it through the sheath. Radiological supervision and interpretation are provided for guidance. Post-procedure, vascular access hemostasis is secured and the patient is monitored briefly in recovery before discharge.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`59`	Distinct Procedural Service	When a separate and distinct procedural service is performed on the same day at a different site or session from other procedures.
`62`	Two Surgeons	When two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct portions of a complex retrieval.

CPT 37193: Percutaneous Removal of Inferior Vena Cava Filter

CPT-37214-CATHETER-DIRECTED-THROMBOLYTIC-INFUSION

CPT 37214: Catheter-Directed Thrombolytic Infusion

CPT-37217-TRANSCATHETER-STENT-PLACEMENT-CAROTID-INNOMINATE-RETROGRADE-CERVICAL-APPROACH

CPT 37217: Transcatheter Stent Placement, Intrathoracic Carotid/Innominate

CPT-37216-CAROTID-ARTERY-STENT-PLACEMENT-ANGIOPLASTY

CPT 37216: Carotid Artery Stent Placement with Angioplasty

CPT-37215-CAROTID-ARTERY-STENT-PLACEMENT-EMBOLIC-PROTECTION

CPT 37215: Carotid Artery Stent Placement with Embolic Protection

CPT-37192-IVC-FILTER-REPOSITIONING-IMAGE-GUIDED

CPT 37192: Image-Guided Repositioning of IVC Filter

CPT-37195-CEREBRAL-THROMBOLYTIC-INFUSION

CPT 37195: Cerebral Thrombolytic Infusion for Clot Dissolution

CPT-37218-INTRATHORACIC-CAROTID-INNOMINATE-ARTERY-STENT-PLACEMENT

CPT 37218: Intrathoracic Common Carotid or Innominate Artery Stent Placement

CPT-37212-CATHETER-DIRECTED-THROMBOLYSIS-VENOUS

CPT 37212: Catheter-Directed Venous Thrombolysis

CPT-37200-TRANSCATHETER-VASCULAR-BIOPSY

CPT 37200: Transcatheter Vascular Biopsy, Intravascular Tissue Sampling

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Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
208100000X	Interventional Radiology	Primary specialty performing percutaneous endovascular foreign body retrievals.
208000000X	Diagnostic Radiology	Provides radiological supervision and interpretation; may perform procedures with subspecialty training.
207RC0000X	Vascular Surgery	Performs endovascular retrievals when surgical or hybrid approaches are required.
363L00000X	Critical Care Medicine	May be involved for unstable patients requiring intensive monitoring during retrieval.
367A00000X	Emergency Medicine	Often initiates diagnosis and coordinates urgent referral for retrieval in acute presentations.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`T82.7XXA`	Other complications of vascular prosthetic devices, implants and grafts, initial encounter	Retrieval of intravascular fragments from catheter-related device failures.
`T82.89XA`	Other complications of cardiac and vascular devices, implants and grafts, initial encounter	When a fragment from a vascular device migrates intravascularly requiring removal.
`T15.89XA`	Foreign body in other specified sites, initial encounter	General code for retained foreign bodies when intravascular location specified elsewhere.
`I82.90`	Embolism and thrombosis of unspecified vein	Used when thrombotic complications are associated with a lodged foreign body.
`I26.99`	Other pulmonary embolism without acute cor pulmonale	If the foreign body has embolized to the pulmonary circulation requiring retrieval.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`36011`	Introduction of needle or intracatheter, radiological supervision and interpretation (for initial venous access)	May be performed for vascular access prior to placement of retrieval sheath.
`36901`	Introduction of catheter, venous diagnostic, with radiological supervision and interpretation	Diagnostic venography to localize the foreign body and plan retrieval.
`76937`	Ultrasound guidance for vascular access (real-time)	Used to obtain venous access safely before catheter-directed retrieval.
`93580`	Percutaneous transcatheter closure or occlusion procedures with radiological supervision	May be performed if retrieval requires adjunctive embolization or occlusion; related hybrid workflows.
`36247`	Selective catheterization, percutaneous, any vessel, radiological supervision and interpretation	Selective catheter placement to approach the foreign body when more distal vascular access is required.

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