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Official Description

Thromboendarterectomy, including patch graft, if performed; deep (profunda) femoral

© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

Thromboendarterectomy is a surgical procedure aimed at removing obstructions from the deep (profunda) femoral artery, which is a major blood vessel supplying blood to the thigh and leg. This procedure is particularly indicated for patients suffering from conditions that lead to the formation of thrombi, such as blood clots or atherosclerotic plaques that can impede blood flow. The term 'thromboendarterectomy' refers to the excision of both the thrombus and the intima, which is the innermost layer of the artery, thereby restoring patency to the affected vessel. The procedure typically involves making an incision in the leg to access the artery, isolating the thrombosed segment, and carefully removing the obstructive material. In some cases, a patch graft may be utilized to enhance the diameter of the artery post-removal, ensuring adequate blood flow is restored. This intervention is critical for preventing complications associated with reduced blood supply, such as ischemia or limb loss, and is performed under sterile conditions with careful monitoring of blood flow throughout the process.

© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The thromboendarterectomy procedure is indicated for patients presenting with specific vascular conditions that necessitate the removal of obstructions from the deep femoral artery. These indications include:

  • Thrombus Formation The presence of a thrombus, or blood clot, that obstructs blood flow in the deep femoral artery.
  • Atherosclerotic Plaque The accumulation of atherosclerotic plaque that has adhered to the arterial walls, leading to significant narrowing or occlusion of the artery.
  • Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Patients diagnosed with PAD who exhibit symptoms such as claudication or critical limb ischemia due to compromised blood flow.

2. Procedure

The thromboendarterectomy procedure involves several critical steps to ensure the successful removal of the obstruction and restoration of blood flow. These steps include:

  • Access Incision An incision is made in the leg to provide access to the common or deep femoral artery. This incision is strategically placed to minimize tissue damage and facilitate optimal exposure of the artery.
  • Isolation and Dissection The thrombosed portion of the artery is carefully isolated and dissected from surrounding structures to prevent injury to adjacent tissues. This step is crucial for ensuring a clear surgical field.
  • Temporary Shunt Placement If necessary, a temporary shunt may be placed to maintain perfusion to the distal artery while the obstructed segment is being addressed. This helps to preserve blood flow and minimize ischemic damage.
  • Clamping the Artery Vascular clamps are applied proximal to the obstructed area to control blood flow and create a bloodless surgical field, allowing for a more precise operation.
  • Incision and Debridement The artery is incised, and the thrombus along with any atherosclerotic plaque is meticulously removed. This step may involve scraping or excising the intima to ensure complete removal of the obstructive material.
  • Intima Removal The artery lining, or intima, is separated from the arterial walls and excised to increase the diameter of the vessel, which is essential for restoring adequate blood flow.
  • Suturing the Artery The edges of the remaining normal intima are sutured back to the artery walls. This step is critical for ensuring the integrity of the vessel post-procedure.
  • Patch Graft Application If necessary, a venous or synthetic patch graft is applied to enlarge the diameter of the artery, facilitating improved blood flow and reducing the risk of future occlusion.
  • Shunt Removal If a temporary shunt was used, it is carefully removed once the artery has been repaired and blood flow is reestablished.
  • Restoration of Blood Flow The vascular clamps are removed, allowing blood flow to resume through the artery. This step is monitored closely to ensure there are no complications.
  • Hemostasis Check The arterial suture lines are inspected for hemostasis to confirm that there is no active bleeding before closing the incision.
  • Closure of Tissues The overlying tissues are then closed in layers, ensuring proper healing and minimizing the risk of infection.

3. Post-Procedure

After the thromboendarterectomy procedure, patients are typically monitored for any signs of complications, such as bleeding or infection. Post-operative care may include pain management, monitoring of vital signs, and assessment of limb perfusion to ensure that blood flow has been adequately restored. Patients may be advised on activity restrictions and follow-up appointments to evaluate the success of the procedure and the healing process. Rehabilitation may also be recommended to improve mobility and strength in the affected limb.

Short Descr RECHANNELING OF ARTERY
Medium Descr TEAEC W/WO PATCH GRAFT DEEP PROFUNDA FEMORAL
Long Descr Thromboendarterectomy, including patch graft, if performed; deep (profunda) femoral
Status Code Active Code
Global Days 090 - Major Surgery
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 0 - Physician Service Code
Multiple Procedures (51) 2 - Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply.
Bilateral Surgery (50) 1 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures applies.
Physician Supervisions 09 - Concept does not apply.
Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) 2 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery does not apply to this procedure...
Co-Surgeons (62) 1 - Co-surgeons could be paid, though supporting documentation is required...
Team Surgery (66) 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Diagnostic Imaging Family 99 - Concept Does Not Apply
APC Status Indicator Inpatient Procedures, not paid under OPPS
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P2F - Major procedure, cardiovascular-Other
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 60 - Embolectomy and endarterectomy of lower limbs
RT Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body)
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
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.
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).
AS Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery
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.
50 Bilateral procedure: unless otherwise identified in the listings, bilateral procedures that are performed at the same session, should be identified by adding modifier 50 to the appropriate 5 digit code. 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).
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.
62 Two surgeons: when 2 surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct part(s) of a procedure, each surgeon should report his/her distinct operative work by adding modifier 62 to the procedure code and any associated add-on code(s) for that procedure as long as both surgeons continue to work together as primary surgeons. each surgeon should report the co-surgery once using the same procedure code. if additional procedure(s) (including add-on procedure(s) are performed during the same surgical session, separate code(s) may also be reported with modifier 62 added. note: if a co-surgeon acts as an assistant in the performance of additional procedure(s), other than those reported with the modifier 62, during the same surgical session, those services may be reported using separate procedure code(s) with modifier 80 or modifier 82 added, as appropriate.
76 Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
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).
81 Minimum assistant surgeon: minimum surgical assistant services are identified by adding modifier 81 to the usual procedure number.
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).
CR Catastrophe/disaster related
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
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
XE Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
Date
Action
Notes
2007-01-01 Changed Code description changed.
Pre-1990 Added Code added.
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