June 2018 page 11b
Surgery: Cardiovascular System
Question: CPT codes 33320-33335 should be reported for the repair of the aorta or great vessels. Which vessels are considered "great vessels" in that context?
Answer: For CPT coding purposes, the "great vessels" indicated in codes 33320, Suture repair of aorta or great vessels; without shunt or cardiopulmonary bypass; 33321, Suture repair of aorta or great vessels; with shunt bypass; 33322, Suture repair of aorta or great vessels; with cardiopulmonary bypass; 33330, Insertion of graft, aorta or great vessels; without shunt, or cardiopulmonary bypass; and 33335, Insertion of graft, aorta or great...
Note: The following article synopsis was NOT provided by the AMA. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.
Article Overview
This article is a CPT-focused Q&A from the cardiovascular surgery section of CPT Assistant. It addresses how the term “great vessels” is used in connection with aortic and great-vessel repair and graft procedures, and it is aimed at coding professionals who need to interpret the anatomic scope of those procedures for accurate code selection. The discussion is limited to general anatomical clarification and coding context for the referenced CPT family.
Why This Topic Matters
Understanding which vessels fall within the CPT concept of great vessels can affect whether a cardiovascular repair case falls within the intended scope of the related procedure codes. This is relevant for coders, auditors, and billing teams working with thoracic vascular surgery documentation.
Article Sections
June 2018 page 11b
A short Q&A discussion from the cardiovascular surgery section of CPT Assistant. It focuses on the anatomic scope of the vessels referenced in a family of CPT procedures.
What You Will Learn
How the article frames the CPT concept of great vessels
What general anatomic territory the discussion addresses
Why the topic is relevant to cardiovascular surgery coding reference material
How the article situates the guidance within a CPT Assistant Q&A format
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