CPT® Code 33917

Pulmonary artery stenosis refers to the narrowing of the pulmonary artery, which can occur in the main pulmonary artery or in the branches that lead to the right or left lungs. This condition can impede blood flow from the heart to the lungs, potentially leading to various cardiovascular complications. The surgical procedure described by CPT® Code 33917 involves a repair of this stenosis through reconstruction using a patch or graft. The operation is performed with the patient under general anesthesia, and access to the heart is achieved via a median sternotomy, which involves making an incision along the sternum to expose the heart and surrounding structures. During the procedure, the pericardium, which is the fibrous sac surrounding the heart, is incised to allow for the harvesting of a patch of pericardium that will be used later as a graft. The surgical team meticulously dissects the main pulmonary artery and its branches from the surrounding tissues to gain access to the narrowed areas. To control blood flow during the repair, rubber loops are placed around the arteries to gently occlude them. The narrowed segment of the pulmonary artery is then incised longitudinally, and a patch or graft—made from autologous pericardium, an allograft (homograft), a xenograft, or synthetic material—is inserted to enlarge the narrowed section, thereby restoring adequate blood flow. After the reconstruction, chest tubes may be placed to facilitate drainage, and the chest incision is subsequently closed to complete the procedure.