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Official Description

Injection procedure during cardiac catheterization including imaging supervision, interpretation, and report; for supravalvular aortography (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

An injection procedure is performed specifically for supravalvular aortography during a cardiac catheterization. This procedure is essential for visualizing the aorta, particularly the area just above the aortic valve, to assess various cardiovascular conditions. Supravalvular aortography is a diagnostic imaging technique that helps in evaluating significant heart-related issues such as aortic regurgitation, which is the backflow of blood due to improper closure of the aortic valve, aortic aneurysm or dissection, which involves the abnormal dilation or tearing of the aorta, and congenital anomalies of the aorta, which are structural heart defects present at birth. During the procedure, a catheter is carefully positioned within the aorta, allowing for the injection of contrast media. This contrast agent enhances the visibility of the aorta on imaging studies, enabling the physician to obtain a detailed aortogram. The images captured during this process are then processed and reviewed, leading to a comprehensive written interpretation of the findings. It is important to note that this aortography is reported separately in addition to the primary cardiac catheterization code, ensuring accurate billing and documentation of the services provided.

© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The injection procedure for supravalvular aortography is indicated for the evaluation of specific cardiovascular conditions. These include:

  • Aortic Regurgitation - A condition where the aortic valve does not close properly, allowing blood to flow backward into the heart.
  • Aortic Aneurysm - An abnormal bulge in the wall of the aorta that can lead to serious complications if it ruptures.
  • Aortic Dissection - A serious condition involving a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, which can cause severe pain and can be life-threatening.
  • Congenital Anomalies of the Aorta - Structural defects of the aorta that are present at birth, which may require further evaluation and management.

2. Procedure

The procedure for supravalvular aortography involves several critical steps to ensure accurate imaging and assessment of the aorta.

  • Step 1: Catheter Placement - The procedure begins with the insertion of a catheter into a blood vessel, typically through the femoral artery. The catheter is carefully advanced through the vascular system until it reaches the aorta, specifically positioned just above the aortic valve.
  • Step 2: Injection of Contrast Media - Once the catheter is correctly positioned, a contrast medium is injected through the catheter. This contrast agent is essential for enhancing the visibility of the aorta during imaging.
  • Step 3: Imaging Acquisition - Following the injection of the contrast media, imaging studies are conducted to visualize the aorta. This may involve fluoroscopy or other imaging techniques to capture detailed images of the aorta and assess its structure and function.
  • Step 4: Interpretation and Reporting - After the imaging is completed, the obtained aortogram is processed and reviewed by the physician. A comprehensive written interpretation of the findings is generated, detailing any abnormalities or conditions identified during the procedure.

3. Post-Procedure

Post-procedure care for patients undergoing supravalvular aortography typically includes monitoring for any immediate complications related to the catheterization, such as bleeding or infection at the catheter insertion site. Patients may be observed for a short period to ensure stability before being discharged. The physician will provide instructions regarding activity restrictions and any follow-up appointments necessary to discuss the results of the aortography and any further management required based on the findings.

Short Descr NJX CAR CTH SPRVLV AORTGRPHY
Medium Descr NJX DRG C-CATHJ SUPRAVALVULAR AORTOGRAPHY S&I
Long Descr Injection procedure during cardiac catheterization including imaging supervision, interpretation, and report; for supravalvular aortography (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
Status Code Active Code
Global Days ZZZ - Code Related to Another Service
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 0 - Physician Service Code
Multiple Procedures (51) 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply.
Bilateral Surgery (50) 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply.
Physician Supervisions 09 - Concept does not apply.
Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure...
Co-Surgeons (62) 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Team Surgery (66) 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Diagnostic Imaging Family 99 - Concept Does Not Apply
APC Status Indicator Items and Services Packaged into APC Rates
ASC Payment Indicator Packaged service/item; no separate payment made.
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P2F - Major procedure, cardiovascular-Other
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 47 - Diagnostic cardiac catheterization, coronary arteriography

This is an add-on code that must be used in conjunction with one of these primary codes.

33741 Modifier 63 Exempt MPFS Status: Active Code APC C Transcatheter atrial septostomy (TAS) for congenital cardiac anomalies to create effective atrial flow, including all imaging guidance by the proceduralist, when performed, any method (eg, Rashkind, Sang-Park, balloon, cutting balloon, blade)
33745 MPFS Status: Active Code APC C Transcatheter intracardiac shunt (TIS) creation by stent placement for congenital cardiac anomalies to establish effective intracardiac flow, including all imaging guidance by the proceduralist, when performed, left and right heart diagnostic cardiac catheterization for congenital cardiac anomalies, and target zone angioplasty, when performed (eg, atrial septum, Fontan fenestration, right ventricular outflow tract, Mustard/Senning/Warden baffles); initial intracardiac shunt
93451 MPFS Status: Active Code APC J1 ASC G2 Right heart catheterization including measurement(s) of oxygen saturation and cardiac output, when performed
93452 MPFS Status: Active Code APC J1 ASC G2 Left heart catheterization including intraprocedural injection(s) for left ventriculography, imaging supervision and interpretation, when performed
93453 MPFS Status: Active Code APC J1 ASC G2 Combined right and left heart catheterization including intraprocedural injection(s) for left ventriculography, imaging supervision and interpretation, when performed
93454 MPFS Status: Active Code APC J1 ASC G2 Catheter placement in coronary artery(s) for coronary angiography, including intraprocedural injection(s) for coronary angiography, imaging supervision and interpretation;
93455 MPFS Status: Active Code APC J1 ASC G2 Catheter placement in coronary artery(s) for coronary angiography, including intraprocedural injection(s) for coronary angiography, imaging supervision and interpretation; with catheter placement(s) in bypass graft(s) (internal mammary, free arterial, venous grafts) including intraprocedural injection(s) for bypass graft angiography
93456 MPFS Status: Active Code APC J1 ASC G2 Catheter placement in coronary artery(s) for coronary angiography, including intraprocedural injection(s) for coronary angiography, imaging supervision and interpretation; with right heart catheterization
93457 MPFS Status: Active Code APC J1 ASC G2 Catheter placement in coronary artery(s) for coronary angiography, including intraprocedural injection(s) for coronary angiography, imaging supervision and interpretation; with catheter placement(s) in bypass graft(s) (internal mammary, free arterial, venous grafts) including intraprocedural injection(s) for bypass graft angiography and right heart catheterization
93458 MPFS Status: Active Code APC J1 ASC G2 Catheter placement in coronary artery(s) for coronary angiography, including intraprocedural injection(s) for coronary angiography, imaging supervision and interpretation; with left heart catheterization including intraprocedural injection(s) for left ventriculography, when performed
93459 MPFS Status: Active Code APC J1 ASC G2 Catheter placement in coronary artery(s) for coronary angiography, including intraprocedural injection(s) for coronary angiography, imaging supervision and interpretation; with left heart catheterization including intraprocedural injection(s) for left ventriculography, when performed, catheter placement(s) in bypass graft(s) (internal mammary, free arterial, venous grafts) with bypass graft angiography
93460 MPFS Status: Active Code APC J1 ASC G2 Catheter placement in coronary artery(s) for coronary angiography, including intraprocedural injection(s) for coronary angiography, imaging supervision and interpretation; with right and left heart catheterization including intraprocedural injection(s) for left ventriculography, when performed
93461 MPFS Status: Active Code APC J1 ASC G2 Catheter placement in coronary artery(s) for coronary angiography, including intraprocedural injection(s) for coronary angiography, imaging supervision and interpretation; with right and left heart catheterization including intraprocedural injection(s) for left ventriculography, when performed, catheter placement(s) in bypass graft(s) (internal mammary, free arterial, venous grafts) with bypass graft angiography
93593 MPFS Status: Carrier Priced APC J1 Right heart catheterization for congenital heart defect(s) including imaging guidance by the proceduralist to advance the catheter to the target zone; normal native connections
93594 MPFS Status: Carrier Priced APC J1 Right heart catheterization for congenital heart defect(s) including imaging guidance by the proceduralist to advance the catheter to the target zone; abnormal native connections
93595 MPFS Status: Carrier Priced APC J1 Left heart catheterization for congenital heart defect(s) including imaging guidance by the proceduralist to advance the catheter to the target zone, normal or abnormal native connections
93596 MPFS Status: Carrier Priced APC J1 Right and left heart catheterization for congenital heart defect(s) including imaging guidance by the proceduralist to advance the catheter to the target zone(s); normal native connections
93597 MPFS Status: Carrier Priced APC J1 Right and left heart catheterization for congenital heart defect(s) including imaging guidance by the proceduralist to advance the catheter to the target zone(s); abnormal native connections
59 Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25.
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
Q1 Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
22 Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
26 Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number.
51 Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d).
52 Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use).
53 Discontinued procedure: under certain circumstances, the physician or other qualified health care professional may elect to terminate a surgical or diagnostic procedure. due to extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient, it may be necessary to indicate that a surgical or diagnostic procedure was started but discontinued. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 53 to the code reported by the individual for the discontinued procedure. note: this modifier is not used to report the elective cancellation of a procedure prior to the patient's anesthesia induction and/or surgical preparation in the operating suite. for outpatient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (asc) reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use).
58 Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78.
78 Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, see modifier 76.)
79 Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.)
80 Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s).
82 Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon not available): the unavailability of a qualified resident surgeon is a prerequisite for use of modifier 82 appended to the usual procedure code number(s).
AO Alternate payment method declined by provider of service
AQ Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa)
CC Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed)
CR Catastrophe/disaster related
ET Emergency services
GV Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
GZ Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary
KX Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met
LD Left anterior descending coronary artery
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
PD Diagnostic or related non diagnostic item or service provided in a wholly owned or operated entity to a patient who is admitted as an inpatient within 3 days
Q6 Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area
RE Furnished in full compliance with fda-mandated risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (rems)
RT Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body)
TC Technical component; under certain circumstances, a charge may be made for the technical component alone; under those circumstances the technical component charge is identified by adding modifier 'tc' to the usual procedure number; technical component charges are institutional charges and not billed separately by physicians; however, portable x-ray suppliers only bill for technical component and should utilize modifier tc; the charge data from portable x-ray suppliers will then be used to build customary and prevailing profiles
XE Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter
XP Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner
Date
Action
Notes
2023-01-01 Note Short and medium descriptions changed.
2022-01-01 Changed First appearance of guideline change in codebook.
2021-06-07 Changed First guideline revised per CPT errata.
2017-01-01 Changed Moderate (Conscious) Sedation flag removed. See new Moderate Sedation category.
2013-01-01 Changed Guideline information changed.
2011-01-01 Added Added
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