Summary & Overview
CPT 44720: Small Intestine Preparation for Anastomosis
CPT code 44720 identifies the surgical examination and preparation of previously harvested small intestine, including preparing the vein for anastomosis. This code captures intraoperative tissue- and vessel-preparation work that is a necessary step in intestinal reimplantation or transplant-related procedures. Accurate use of this code matters nationally because it affects surgical billing classification, resource tracking in transplant programs, and payment for complex intraoperative services.
Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will gain a concise understanding of the clinical context of 44720, typical sites of service, common modifiers associated with the code, and the types of policy and coding considerations that influence claim adjudication. The publication also summarizes benchmarking expectations and highlights where policy updates or payer-specific edits commonly arise.
This review is designed for billing professionals, surgical teams involved in transplant and complex abdominal procedures, and policy analysts seeking clarity on reporting requirements for small intestine preparation. Data not available in the input for specific taxonomies, ICD-10 pairings, related codes, and payer-specific contract language will be noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 44720 describes the examination and preparation of previously harvested small intestine, including preparation of the vein for anastomosis. This procedure involves handling and readying intestinal tissue and associated vascular structures for surgical reconnection or transplantation.
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Service type: Surgical organ/tissue preparation
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Typical site of service: Operating room or transplant surgical suite
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult undergoing intestinal transplantation or multivisceral transplant where a previously harvested segment of small intestine is being prepared for implantation. The patient has end-stage intestinal failure from short bowel syndrome or chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction and was taken to the operating room for transplant. Intraoperative workflow: the transplant surgeon inspects the donor small bowel graft on the back table, removes residual mesenteric fat, irrigates the lumen and serosal surfaces, fashions and prepares the donor mesenteric vein and other vascular structures for anastomosis, staples or trims bowel ends as needed, and places the prepared graft into the sterile field for implantation. This code represents the surgeon’s work preparing previously harvested small intestine and preparing the vein for anastomosis prior to implantation into the recipient. Typical site of service is an inpatient operating room or transplant center surgical suite. Typical modifiers applied depend on circumstances such as the primary surgeon status, bilateral procedures, increased procedural complexity, or unrelated concurrent procedures (see Coding Specifications). Typical payer mix includes commercial and government payors such as Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, BUCA, and Medicare.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier / default | Used when no other modifier applies and the procedure is reported normally |