For a catheter advanced into both the left and right renal artery and the SMA, what CPT® codes are reported?

In this scenario, the correct coding involves understanding both the specific catheter placements into the arteries and the proper assignment of modifiers to reflect the procedures performed.

The codes that are relevant when a catheter is advanced into both the left and right renal arteries (renal arteries being the blood vessels that supply the kidneys) and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA, which supplies blood to the intestines) are related to selective renal artery catheterizations and imaging studies. The base code for catheterization of the renal arteries is 36245, which applies to selective catheterization of a renal artery.

In this case, code 36245 is reported for each of the renal arteries that were catheterized, which explains the report of 36245 for both the left and right renal arteries. Since both renal arteries were catheterized, a modifier is necessary to identify the left (LT) and right (RT) sides. The correct usage of modifiers ensures proper coding for procedures performed on both sides.

The code 36252 refers specifically to the catheterization of the SMA. Because the SMA was also catheterized, this code is included in the report. The inclusion of the 59 modifier indicates that the procedures were separate and distinct from one another, which is necessary when multiple