CPT 75885 Percutaneous Transhepatic Portography Reimbursement | OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

CPT 75885: Percutaneous Transhepatic Portography with Hemodynamic Evaluation

CPT code 75885 describes the imaging supervision and interpretation for percutaneous transhepatic portography, a specialized interventional radiology procedure that visualizes the portal venous system and includes hemodynamic evaluation. This code matters nationally because it captures services used to diagnose and evaluate portal vein patency and portal hypertension — conditions with significant implications for patient management and resource use. Payors commonly covering services of this type include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical context for percutaneous transhepatic portography, the typical sites of service, and what the code represents administratively. The publication also summarizes expected billing elements and common modifiers, outlines the clinical rationale for using the procedure, and highlights where stakeholders should look for policy or reimbursement updates. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable. This report is written for a national audience of providers, coders, and policy analysts seeking a clear reference on CPT code 75885 and its clinical and billing context.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare75885CPTInterventional RadiologyPortographyPortal HypertensionDiagnostic ImagingHemodynamic EvaluationHospital Outpatient

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 75885 describes imaging supervision and interpretation for percutaneous transhepatic portography. The procedure involves injection of contrast medium into the portal venous system via a needle or catheter placed in the liver to visualize portal vein anatomy and assess patency.

Service type: Diagnostic imaging with hemodynamic evaluation, including measurement of portal system blood flow and pressures.

Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient interventional radiology or inpatient interventional radiology suite.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 58-year-old patient with chronic liver disease and suspected portal vein thrombosis presents with worsening abdominal pain, ascites, and abnormal liver function tests. Noninvasive imaging (Doppler ultrasound, CT or MRI) is inconclusive for portal venous patency and portal hypertension assessment. The interventional radiology team schedules a percutaneous transhepatic portography to visualize the portal venous system and perform hemodynamic measurements.

The clinical workflow: the patient is consented and prepped in an IR suite or hybrid operating room. Conscious sedation or general anesthesia is administered per patient factors and anesthesiology evaluation. Under ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance, an interventional radiologist accesses a peripheral intrahepatic portal vein branch with a needle or small-gauge catheter through a transhepatic approach. Contrast medium is injected while fluoroscopic images are obtained to assess portal vein anatomy, detect thrombosis, stenosis, or collaterals, and to evaluate portal venous pressure and gradient (hemodynamic evaluation). Images are interpreted by the performing physician and a procedural report documents findings, pressures, volumes of contrast, complications, and recommended next steps. Typical site of service is an interventional radiology suite, catheterization laboratory, or hybrid OR. Indications include evaluation of portal vein patency, pre-transplant assessment, portal hypertension workup, and planning for portal vein interventions such as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) or portal vein recanalization.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use

CPT 75827: Superior Vena Cava Venography with Serialography

CPT-75872-EPIDURAL-VENOGRAPHY-SUPERVISION-INTERPRETATION

CPT 75872: Supervision and Interpretation of Epidural Venography

CPT-75825-INFERIOR-VENA-CAVA-VENOGRAPHY-SERIALOGRAPHY-INTERPRETATION

CPT 75825: Inferior Vena Cava Venography with Serialography, Interpretation

CPT-75891-HEPATIC-VENOGRAPHY-IMAGING-INTERPRETATION

CPT 75891: Hepatic Venography Imaging Supervision and Interpretation

CPT-75803-BILATERAL-EXTREMITY-LYMPHATIC-IMAGING-SUPERVISION-INTERPRETATION

CPT 75803: Supervision and Interpretation of Bilateral Extremity Lymphatic Imaging

CPT-75833-RENAL-SELECTIVE-VENOGRAPHY-INTERPRETATION

CPT 75833: Supervision & Interpretation of Renal Selective Venography

CPT-75889-HEPATIC-VENOGRAPHY-WITH-HEMODYNAMIC-EVALUATION

CPT 75889: Hepatic Venography with Hemodynamic Evaluation

CPT-75809-IMAGING-EVALUATION-INDWELLING-INFUSION-PUMP-NONVASCULAR-SHUNT

CPT 75809: Imaging Evaluation of Indwelling Infusion Pump or Nonvascular Shunt

CPT-75893-VENOUS-BLOOD-SAMPLING-IMAGING-SUPERVISION-INTERPRETATION

CPT 75893: Imaging Supervision and Interpretation for Catheter Venous Sampling

CPT-75870-SUPERIOR-SAGITTAL-SINUS-VENOGRAPHY-INTERPRETATION

CPT 75870: Venography of Superior Sagittal Sinus, Supervision and Interpretation

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Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207K00000X	Interventional Radiology	Primary specialty performing percutaneous transhepatic portal venography and hemodynamic evaluation.
2083P0200X	Vascular and Interventional Radiology	Alternate taxonomy encompassing vascular-focused IR physicians performing portal interventions.
208000000X	Diagnostic Radiology	May interpret imaging studies and perform procedures in collaboration with interventional colleagues.
208800000X	Surgery	Hepatobiliary or transplant surgeons may participate in preoperative planning or combined procedures.
207L00000X	Anesthesiology	Provides sedation or anesthesia services during the procedure.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`I81`	Portal vein thrombosis	Direct indication for portal venography to confirm thrombus and assess extent.
`K76.6`	Portal hypertension	Hemodynamic evaluation and imaging to assess portal pressure and collateral circulation.
`K74.60`	Unspecified cirrhosis of liver	Common underlying condition prompting evaluation of portal venous system.
`K75.9`	Inflammatory liver disease, unspecified	May be associated with portal system abnormalities requiring imaging.
`Z94.4`	Liver transplant status	Post-transplant patients may require portal imaging for graft vascular assessment.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`75885`	Percutaneous transhepatic portography; including imaging supervision and interpretation and hemodynamic evaluation	Primary procedure for portal venous visualization and pressure assessment.
`36010`	Introduction of needle or intracatheter, superior or inferior vena cava, central venous access	May be used when central venous access is required for pressure monitoring or contrast injection adjunctive to portal procedures.
`49440`	Injection procedure during abdominal paracentesis, therapeutic	May be performed before or after portography for ascites management in the same clinical episode.
`75894`	Portal venography via transjugular approach including pressure measurements and imaging supervision and interpretation	Alternative or complementary approach (transjugular) to evaluate portal venous system when transhepatic access is not appropriate.
`37182`	Transluminal balloon angioplasty, initial vessel	May be performed during the same session if a focal portal vein stenosis amenable to angioplasty is identified.
`37184`	Transcatheter placement of intravascular stent(s)	May be performed after portography if intervention for portal vein stenosis or occlusion is indicated.

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