CPT® Code 35531

An aortoceliac or aortomesenteric bypass graft is a surgical procedure that involves the creation of a bypass using a vein to circumvent a diseased or obstructed segment of the celiac or mesenteric artery. The celiac artery, also known as the celiac trunk, is the first major branch of the aorta that emerges just below the diaphragm. It branches into three significant arteries: the hepatic artery, which supplies blood to the liver; the left gastric artery, which provides blood to the stomach; and the splenic artery, which supplies the spleen, pancreas, and parts of the stomach. Additionally, there are two mesenteric arteries: the superior mesenteric artery, which is responsible for delivering blood to the small intestine and the upper part of the large intestine, and the inferior mesenteric artery, which supplies blood to the lower part of the large intestine and the rectum. When either the celiac trunk or the superior mesenteric artery becomes obstructed or diseased, it can lead to significant complications, necessitating surgical intervention. The procedure typically involves an incision in the upper abdomen to access the affected arteries, allowing for the careful dissection and exposure of the celiac artery and its branches or the superior mesenteric artery. In cases where the inferior mesenteric artery is also involved, a separate incision in the lower abdomen may be required to facilitate access. The surgical team will harvest a vein graft, often from the saphenous vein in the leg, to create the bypass. This vein graft is then meticulously sutured to the aorta and the affected artery, restoring blood flow and alleviating the obstruction.