CPT® Code 92996

Deleted

Percutaneous transluminal coronary atherectomy, by mechanical or other method, with or without balloon angioplasty; each additional vessel (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

The procedure described by CPT® Code 92996 refers to a percutaneous transluminal coronary atherectomy, which is a minimally invasive technique used to remove atherosclerotic plaque from the coronary arteries. This procedure can be performed using mechanical methods or other techniques, and it may be accompanied by balloon angioplasty, which involves the inflation of a balloon to further open the artery. The process begins with the preparation of the skin over the access artery, typically one of the femoral arteries, followed by puncturing the artery with a needle and placing a sheath to facilitate access. A guidewire is then inserted and navigated through the aorta into the occluded coronary artery. During the atherectomy, a specialized balloon catheter equipped with a cutting piston is utilized to shave away plaque from the arterial wall. The cutting piston advances through a window on the catheter, effectively removing the plaque and pushing it into the device for extraction upon completion of the procedure. Multiple passes may be made with the atherectomy device to ensure thorough plaque removal. After the atherectomy is completed, a balloon-tipped angioplasty catheter may be introduced to the blockage site, where it is inflated to compress any residual plaque and smooth the arterial wall. Finally, contrast material is injected, and a completion angiography is performed to confirm that the treated artery remains open and patent. It is important to note that CPT® Code 92996 is specifically used to report the atherectomy of each additional coronary artery, following the primary procedure reported with CPT® Code 92995.