CPT® Code 37246

Transluminal balloon angioplasty (except lower extremity artery(ies) for occlusive disease, intracranial, coronary, pulmonary, or dialysis circuit), open or percutaneous, including all imaging and radiological supervision and interpretation necessary to perform the angioplasty within the same artery; initial artery

Transluminal balloon angioplasty is a specialized endovascular procedure designed to treat narrowing or obstruction of arteries, excluding those in the lower extremities. This procedure employs fluoroscopy, a type of real-time imaging, to visualize the arteries and guide the treatment process. The procedure can be performed either percutaneously or through an open approach. In the percutaneous method, a needle is inserted through the skin into a blood vessel, typically located in the groin, arm, or neck. A guidewire is then threaded through the needle, which is subsequently replaced with a vascular sheath to facilitate access to the artery. In contrast, the open approach involves making an incision directly over the targeted vessel to introduce the vascular sheath. Once access to the artery is established, a vascular catheter is inserted over the guidewire, and contrast dye is injected to enhance the visibility of the artery and identify any areas of stenosis or occlusion. Following this, the vascular catheter is replaced with a balloon catheter, which is advanced to the site of narrowing. The balloon is inflated with a dilute contrast solution to expand the artery for a specified duration, after which it is deflated and removed. To confirm the success of the procedure, a vascular catheter is reinserted, and angiography is performed again to assess whether the artery has been adequately opened or if further intervention is necessary. The CPT® Code 37246 specifically reports the performance of balloon angioplasty on the initial artery, encompassing all required imaging and radiological supervision and interpretation conducted within the same artery during the procedure.