CPT Code 37225 | Description & Clinical Information
CPT 37225 describes the restoration of blood supply in a unilateral femoral or popliteal artery that is narrowed or blocked through an endovascular, open or percutaneous approach, which involves atherectomy to remove plaque from the blood vessel, and includes an angioplasty procedure when performed within the same vessel.
Official Description
The CPT book defines CPT code 37225 as: “Revascularization, endovascular, open or percutaneous, femoral, popliteal artery(s), unilateral; with atherectomy, includes angioplasty within the same vessel, when performed”.
Clinical Information
The procedure described by CPT code 37225 is used to treat arterial occlusions in patients. This procedure can be performed using either an open or a percutaneous approach, depending on the nature and location of the occlusion.
In an open approach, the provider makes a vertical incision over the femoral triangle to access the femoral artery. If the occlusion is in the popliteal artery, the incision may be extended down to the back of the knee to expose the narrowed artery. In the percutaneous approach, the provider punctures the artery through the skin to reach the occlusion.
Once the provider has accessed the occluded vessel, they grasp it with a vascular clamp and perform an arterial irrigation by infusing a heparin saline solution. They then pass a balloon catheter through a guidewire to reach the area of obstruction and dilate the narrowed artery. The balloon catheter is then removed.
The provider then inserts a rotational atherectomy device, known as a burr catheter, into the artery under radiological guidance. They use the burr catheter to dislodge the atherosclerotic plaque from the inner wall of the diseased artery. At the end of the treatment session, the provider checks the patency of the occluded vessel and extent of revascularization through an angioscope.
Finally, the provider withdraws the atherectomy catheter system and applies pressure to stop bleeding in the case of a percutaneous approach. In an open procedure, they repair the incision by suturing the soft tissue in layers.
This procedure is a critical tool in the treating of patients with arterial occlusions, as it can restore blood flow and prevent more severe complications. While the process can seem invasive, the use of advanced technologies like the burr catheter and angioscope make it safer and more effective than ever before.
Return to all the CPT codes for endovascular revascularization.
