CPT® Code 93588

Add-On Code

Venography for congenital heart defect(s), including catheter placement, and radiological supervision and interpretation; venovenous collaterals originating below the heart (eg, from the inferior vena cava) (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

This procedure, identified by CPT® Code 93588, refers to a specialized venography performed specifically for patients with congenital heart defects. The primary purpose of this venography is to assess venovenous collaterals, which are abnormal blood vessels that allow deoxygenated blood to bypass the lungs and return directly to the heart. This condition often arises in patients who have undergone surgical interventions, such as the Fontan procedure, which is designed to manage complex congenital heart defects where only one ventricle is functional. In such cases, the venovenous collaterals can become enlarged due to altered hemodynamics and pressure gradients created by the heart defect and its surgical repair. During the procedure, a catheter is placed, and radiological supervision and interpretation are provided to ensure accurate imaging of the venous pathways. The venography is performed in conjunction with a primary diagnostic cardiac catheterization, where the guide catheter is already positioned within the venous access sheath. The procedure involves injecting contrast material to visualize the venovenous collaterals that originate below the heart, allowing for a detailed assessment of their anatomy and function. This information is crucial for planning potential interventions, such as embolization, to occlude these collaterals and improve oxygenation in the patient’s bloodstream. The use of CPT® Code 93588 is specifically for reporting the venography of these collaterals when they originate below the heart, and it is billed separately in addition to the primary procedure code.