Summary & Overview
CPT 92973: Percutaneous Coronary Mechanical Thrombectomy (Aspiration)
CPT code 92973 denotes percutaneous mechanical aspiration thrombectomy of a coronary artery or coronary artery bypass graft and is reported as an add-on to a primary coronary intervention. The code captures the use of a mechanical aspiration device inserted via catheter to remove thrombus from the coronary circulation during the same session as a primary coronary procedure. This intervention is clinically important for managing acute coronary thrombotic burden and can affect procedural complexity and resources.
Key national payers typically referenced for coverage and payment context include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Payer policies for add-on thrombectomy services often influence facility and professional reimbursement and may include specific documentation or bundling rules.
Readers will find: a concise description of the clinical service captured by 92973, the typical procedural setting and service type, and an overview of payer presence in national analyses. The publication also summarizes benchmarks, common billing modifiers used with add-on interventional services, and relevant clinical context that affects coding and claims submission. Data not available in the input is noted where specific payer policies, associated taxonomies, ICD-10 pairings, and related codes would normally be detailed.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 92973 describes percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy of the coronary circulation using a mechanical aspiration device to remove clot material (thrombus) from a coronary artery or a coronary artery bypass graft. This is an add-on interventional coronary procedure reported in addition to the primary coronary service performed during the same session.
Service type: Periprocedural coronary thrombectomy (mechanical aspiration)
Typical site of service: Cardiac catheterization laboratory or other acute procedural suite where percutaneous coronary interventions are performed
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old male presents to the emergency department with acute-onset chest pain, diaphoresis, and ECG changes consistent with an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The on-call interventional cardiology team performs urgent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Coronary angiography identifies a large thrombotic occlusion of the right coronary artery. After guidewire crossing and balloon angioplasty and/or stent placement to restore flow, the operator uses a mechanical aspiration thrombectomy device through the same percutaneous coronary catheter to remove thrombus material from the coronary artery. The aspiration procedure is performed as an add-on to the primary PCI service during the same session.
Common clinical workflow steps:
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Patient presentation, rapid triage, and ECG evaluation.
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Activation of the catheterization laboratory and informed consent for PCI with possible thrombectomy.
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Vascular access obtained percutaneously (commonly femoral or radial).
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Diagnostic coronary angiography to identify culprit lesion and thrombus burden.
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Primary coronary intervention (balloon angioplasty and/or stent placement) as indicated.
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Use of a mechanical aspiration device inserted via the PCI catheter to remove thrombus material (
92973as an add-on code reported in addition to the primary coronary service). -
Post-procedure hemostasis, monitoring in the coronary care unit, and documentation of devices and materials used, findings, and immediate outcome.