Summary & Overview

CPT 48552: Donor Pancreas Vein Reconstruction and Organ Preparation

CPT code 48552 captures the specialized surgical service of reconstructing a donor pancreatic vein and preparing the pancreas in a separate work area of the operating room for transplantation. This code represents a critical step in pancreas transplant workflows that enables successful vascular anastomosis and organ viability prior to implantation. Nationally, accurate coding for donor organ preparation is essential for procedural accounting, transplant program reporting, and payer adjudication of transplant-related facility and professional services.

Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the code’s clinical context and service setting, common modifiers relevant to reporting, and guidance on where this line item typically appears in transplant service bundles. The publication outlines benchmarking considerations and policy issues that affect coverage and reimbursement for transplant organ preparation, including implications for billing distinct donor organ preparation services versus bundled transplant procedures.

This summary equips transplant program managers, billing professionals, and policy analysts with clear context about when and why CPT code 48552 is used, the typical operating-room setting for the service, and the payer landscape relevant to national billing and policy discussions.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicareCPT 48552pancreas transplantorgan procurementvascular reconstructionoperating roomback-table preparationtransplant billingsurgical preparationdonor organ

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 48552 describes surgical preparation and reconstruction of a donor pancreatic vein from a cadaver or other nonliving donor for transplantation into a recipient. The procedure involves precise vascular reconstruction and organ preparation performed in a separate work area of the operating room prior to implantation.

Service type: Organ procurement and back-table vascular reconstruction for transplant preparation
Typical site of service: Operating room (separate work area for organ preparation)

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 45-year-old recipient with type 1 diabetes and end-stage renal disease is scheduled to receive a simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant. A deceased donor pancreas is procured and transported to the recipient hospital. In the operating room, a transplant surgeon and team perform back-table preparation of the donor pancreas, including reconstruction of the donor portal venous system (venous conduit or extension) to optimize vascular length and facilitate anastomosis to the recipient iliac vein. The procedure is performed in a separate sterile work area of the OR before implantation. Typical personnel include a transplant surgeon, surgical assistant, scrub tech, and anesthesia team. The service is furnished in an inpatient operating room setting and is part of the organ procurement and implantation workflow for pancreas transplantation. Documentation should describe donor organ preparation steps, specific venous reconstruction techniques, start/stop times for the back-table work, and any complications or unusual circumstances influencing charge selection and modifier assignment.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	No modifier (standard)	Use when no special circumstances apply and full service is reported without additional qualifiers.
`11`

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2080P0208X	Transplant Surgery	Primary specialty performing pancreas procurement and reconstruction.
208D00000X	General Surgery	Surgeons with expertise in abdominal transplant procedures frequently perform this service.
207L00000X	Vascular Surgery	Vascular surgeons may assist with complex venous reconstruction when vascular expertise is required.
208200000X	Colon and Rectal Surgery	(Note: included as related abdominal surgical specialty)

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`48552`	Reconstruction of vein of pancreas (donor) for transplantation; preparation of organ in separate work area of operating room	Primary code describing back-table venous reconstruction of a donor pancreas prior to transplantation.
`47135`	Pancreas transplant, with or without duodenal segment; recipient procedure	Performed on the recipient to implant the prepared donor pancreas; follows donor organ preparation.
`50300`	Donor nephrectomy, from cadaver donor, for transplant	Often performed in multi-organ procurement; donor organ recovery procedures are coordinated with pancreas procurement.
`32999`	Unlisted procedure, vascular surgery (example for complex venous work)	May be used when an unusual or additional vascular reconstruction is performed that is not described by standard codes.
`66984`	Cataract extraction with intraocular lens (example unrelated)	Data not applicable to pancreas transplant workflow — included only if billing systems require cross-referencing unrelated services.

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