CPT® Code 47143

Backbench standard preparation of cadaver donor whole liver graft prior to allotransplantation, including cholecystectomy, if necessary, and dissection and removal of surrounding soft tissues to prepare the vena cava, portal vein, hepatic artery, and common bile duct for implantation; without trisegment or lobe split

The procedure described by CPT® Code 47143 involves the meticulous preparation of a cadaver donor whole liver graft prior to its transplantation into a recipient. This process is commonly referred to as backbench or back table preparation. During this procedure, the liver may be received with the gallbladder still attached; if so, a cholecystectomy, or removal of the gallbladder, is performed as part of the preparation. The surrounding soft tissues are carefully dissected away to expose critical vascular structures, including the vena cava, portal vein, hepatic artery, and common bile duct, which are essential for successful implantation into the recipient. The preparation ensures that the liver graft is optimally configured for transplantation, allowing for the identification and management of any anatomical variations or anomalies that may exist. This procedure is crucial for ensuring the viability and functionality of the liver graft once it is implanted into the recipient, thereby enhancing the chances of a successful transplant outcome.