Summary & Overview
CPT 44721: Preparation of Harvested Small Intestine for Arterial Anastomosis
CPT code 44721 denotes the intraoperative examination and preparation of a previously harvested small intestine, including preparation of the artery for anastomosis. This code applies to procedures in which harvested intestinal tissue is evaluated and its vascular structures are prepared to permit reattachment or transplantation. Nationally, this service is relevant to complex abdominal, transplant, and reconstructive surgical workflows where intestinal continuity or graft viability depends on careful vascular preparation.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication presents national benchmarks for coding and service utilization where available, explains the clinical context of the procedure, and summarizes common billing considerations and documentation elements tied to this surgical preparatory service. Readers will find a concise clinical description, expected site-of-service context, common modifier lists provided in the input, and notes on where input data were unavailable. This resource is intended for billing managers, surgical coding staff, and policy analysts seeking a focused overview of the code, its clinical role, and payer coverage scope at a national level.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 44721 describes the examination and preparation of a previously harvested small intestine, including preparation of the artery for anastomosis. This procedure involves handling and readying intestinal tissue and its vascular supply for surgical reconnection.
-
Service type: Surgical preparation of harvested small intestine (vascular and tissue preparation for anastomosis)
-
Typical site of service: Operating room or other surgical setting where transplantation or autologous intestinal reimplantation procedures are performed
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 45–65-year-old adult undergoing intestinal transplantation or a planned reconstruction using a previously harvested segment of small intestine. The clinical workflow begins in the operating room after procurement of the donor intestinal graft. The transplant surgeon inspects and prepares the harvested small intestine on the back table: trimming the bowel, irrigating the lumen, evaluating viability of the segment, and carefully dissecting and preparing the mesenteric artery and its arterial stump for microvascular or standard anastomosis to the recipient arterial inflow. Hemostasis is confirmed and sizing of the arterial ends is performed to match recipient vessels. The prepared graft is then transferred to the recipient surgical field for vascular and enteric anastomoses. Typical perioperative team members include the transplant surgeon, assistant surgeon, anesthesiologist, scrub nurse, and surgical technologist. Usual site of service is an operating room in an acute care hospital or an ambulatory surgical center affiliated with a transplant program when applicable. The service is operative and intraoperative in nature and is reported by the surgeon who performs the back-table preparation and arterial preparation for anastomosis of the previously harvested small intestine.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
62 | Two surgeons | When two surgeons work together as primary surgeons on the same operative procedure. |