Summary & Overview
CPT 61702: Intracranial Aneurysm Surgical Repair, Vertebrobasilar
CPT code 61702 identifies an intracranial surgical repair for a simple aneurysm in the internal vertebrobasilar circulation, typically performed for aneurysms that have caused subarachnoid hemorrhage. This code covers open neurosurgical techniques aimed at repairing an abnormal dilation of a cerebral vessel and is a critical entry point for reimbursement and clinical documentation for complex cerebrovascular care.
Key payers commonly involved in coverage and payment for this service include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers can expect an overview of clinical context for the procedure, typical sites of service, and the billing considerations tied to neurosurgical aneurysm repair. The publication highlights benchmarks and policy-relevant updates that affect payment and claims adjudication nationally, as well as practical coding boundaries and related service-line implications.
The piece is intended for revenue cycle managers, neurosurgery clinicians, clinical documentation specialists, and policy analysts seeking a concise reference on code scope, clinical indications, and payer coverage landscape for CPT code 61702. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 61702 describes a surgical procedure to treat a simple intracranial aneurysm in the internal vertebrobasilar circulation. The procedure uses intracranial surgical techniques to repair an abnormal dilation or widening of a blood vessel, commonly performed when an aneurysm has caused a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Service type: Intracranial aneurysm surgical repair
Typical site of service: Inpatient or outpatient hospital setting (operating room / neurosurgical suite)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 56-year-old patient presents to the emergency department with sudden-onset severe headache, neck stiffness, and photophobia. Non-contrast head CT demonstrates subarachnoid hemorrhage, and CT angiography identifies a small, saccular aneurysm of the posterior communicating artery within the vertebrobasilar/internal vertebrobasilar circulation. The neurosurgery team evaluates the patient, confirms neurologic stability, and schedules intracranial surgical repair using open microsurgical techniques to clip the aneurysm. Preoperative steps include neurosurgical assessment, informed consent, vascular imaging review, and anesthesia evaluation. Intraoperative workflow includes general endotracheal anesthesia, operative exposure of the skull base, microsurgical dissection to the aneurysm, placement of a clip to exclude the aneurysm from circulation, intraoperative angiography or Doppler as indicated to confirm vessel patency, and hemostasis. Postoperative care involves ICU monitoring for vasospasm, blood pressure control, neurologic checks, and follow-up vascular imaging. The procedure aligns with coding for 61702 for open intracranial repair of a simple aneurysm in the internal vertebrobasilar circulation related to subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Baseline or default modifier (no extended definition in CMS) | Rarely used; included in payer lists but typically not appended. |