CPT® Code 33468

The procedure described by CPT® Code 33468 involves the surgical repositioning and plication of the tricuspid valve to address Ebstein anomaly, a congenital heart defect. The tricuspid valve, which is situated between the right atrium and the right ventricle, plays a crucial role in regulating blood flow from the atrium to the ventricle. In patients with Ebstein anomaly, the tricuspid valve exhibits abnormal characteristics, including the downward displacement of two of its leaflets and elongation of the third leaflet, which may adhere to the right ventricle. These structural abnormalities can lead to significant complications, such as regurgitation, where blood flows backward from the right ventricle into the right atrium. This regurgitation can result in right atrial enlargement and, in severe cases, congestive heart failure. The surgical intervention aims to correct these anatomical issues by repositioning the valve leaflets and plicating the right ventricle, thereby restoring normal function and improving the patient's hemodynamic status.