Percutaneous Embolization—Peripheral and Visceral Vessels

Transcatheter embolization is performed with the intent to occlude the blood vessels supplying a previously determined abnormality such as a tumor or aneurysm. Once the blood supply to the abnormality is determined, selective or super-selective catheterization of the feeder vessels is performed and embolic material is injected or placed in each vessel. The most common embolic materials available are gelfoam, coils, glue, balloons, microspheres, and polyvinyl alcohol. Chemo drugs are also used for certain embolization situations. Follow-up angiography is performed to determine the success of the therapy and is coded separately.

37204 Transcatheter occlusion or embolization (eg, for tumor destruction, to achieve hemostasis, to occlude a vascular malformation), percutaneous, any method, non-central nervous system, non-head or neck  A needle is inserted through the skin and into a blood vessel, and a guidewire is threaded through the needle into the vessel. The needle is removed. A catheter is then threaded into the vessel, and the wire extracted.  The catheter travels to the point of the malformation and beads or another vessel-blocking device are released. The beads or other device block the vessel. The catheter is then removed and pressure is applied over the puncture site to stop bleeding.


75894 Transcatheter therapy, embolization, any method,  radiological supervision and interpretation A blood vessel is blocked by inserting an occlusive agent under fluoroscopic monitoring to stop or restrict the blood flow. This is done to restrict blood supply to a tumor, treat vascular malformations, or control hemorrhaging. A local anesthetic is given at the puncture site and a needle is inserted into the selected vessel followed by a guidewire. The needle is removed. A catheter is then inserted over the guidewire and advanced to the vessel requiring treatment. A blocking agent is carefully injected or inserted and monitored for the occlusion or restriction desired. The effect may remain permanent or require another transcatheter embolization with time. This code reports the radiological supervision and interpretation only. Use a separately reportable code for the catheterization.

Percutaneous Embolization—Peripheral and Visceral Vessels