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Question: A cardiologist performed a mitral valve repair. According to the documentation, they placed an annuloplasty ring around the valve. Which CPT^® code should I use to report this?

Arizona Subscriber

Answer: Check your documentation for the specific material that comprises the annuloplasty ring. Placing the ring around the valve helps to tighten the valve without the need for a full valve replacement. Annuloplasty rings are usually made of synthetic material like titanium or silicone.

For this procedure, you’d probably want to look to 33426 (Valvuloplasty, mitral valve, with cardiopulmonary bypass; with prosthetic ring).

For other types of mitral valve repair, keep these codes in mind:

• 33420 (Valvotomy, mitral valve; closed heart)
• 33422 (… open heart, with cardiopulmonary bypass)
• 33425 (Valvuloplasty, mitral valve, with cardiopulmonary bypass)
• 33427 (… radical reconstruction, with or without ring).

Rachel Dorrell, MA, MS, CPC-A, CPPM, Production Editor, AAPC