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Transmyocardial revascularization can also be performed by the percutaneous route (PTMR). PTMR is a catheter-based system using Ho:YAG laser revascularization under fluoroscopic guidance. It is performed in Europe, but is not currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). PTMR is performed by interventional cardiologists, who create myocardial channels with lasers positioned at the endocardial surface inside the left ventricle. Although less invasive than TMR, there are potential disadvantages to the PTMR approach. To minimize the possibility of cardiac tamponade, a potentially fatal condition in which the pericardium fills with blood, the myocardial channels created by PTMR are not as deep as those made by TMR. Also, positioning the laser under fluoroscopic guidance is less precise than the direct visual control of TMR. Less invasive, e.g., robotic techniques for use of this procedure are also being studied.

Open TMR has been investigated in 2 populations of patients: 1) patients with ischemic myocardium who are not candidates for other types of revascularization procedures, such as coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) due to anatomical features of their coronary circulation; and 2) as an adjunct to coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with areas of ischemic myocardium that is not amenable to surgical revascularization. Other potential applications of TMR include its use as an adjunct to stem-cell based therapy.

The Heart Laser® received final U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 1998 for the treatment of patients with stable Class III or IV angina refractory to medical treatment and secondary to objectively demonstrated coronary artery atherosclerosis not amenable to direct coronary revascularization. The Eclipse TMR 2000^TM received FDA approval for similar indications in July 1999. Neither device is approved for use as an adjunct to CABG. Use of either device for this purpose would be considered an off-label indication.

• Presence of class III or IV angina refractory to medical management
• Documentation of reversible ischemia
• Left ventricular ejection fraction >30%
• No evidence of recent myocardial infarction or unstable angina within the last 21 days
• No severe comorbid illness such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Open transmyocardial laser revascularization may be considered medically necessary as an adjunct to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in those patients with documented areas of ischemic myocardium that is not amenable to surgical revascularization. This is not separately billable.

Percutaneous transmyocardial laser revascularization is considered investigational.

Investigative service is defined as the use of any treatment procedure, facility, equipment, drug, device, or supply not yet recognized by certifying boards and/or approving or licensing agencies or published peer review criteria as standard, effective medical practice for the treatment of the condition being treated and as such therefore is not considered medically necessary. (added 3/2004)

The coverage guidelines outlined in the Medical Policy Manual should not be used in lieu of the Member's specific benefit plan language.

5/1999: Reviewed by MPAC; investigational status upheld

2/2001: Reviewed by MPAC; medically necessary for patients with class III or IV angina, who are not candidates for CABG or PTCA.

5/2001: Reviewed by MPAC; medically necessary as an adjunct to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in those patients with documented areas of ischemic myocardium that is not amenable to surgical revascularization. This is not separately billable.

5/8/2002: Type of Service and Place of Service deleted

5/30/2002: Code Reference section updated

2/25/2004: Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) Functional Classification table deleted

3/25/2004: Reviewed by MPAC, percutaneous transmyocardial laser revascularization considered investigational, "Description" section aligned with BCBSA policy # 7.01.54, investigational definition added to Policy Guidelines, non-covered table added to Code Reference section

5/20/2004: Code Reference section updated, CPT code 33141 moved to non-covered and "Note" description revised (33400-33496, 33542 added, 33572 deleted), ICD-9 diagnosis 413.9 description revised to covered codes, ICD-9 code range 414.00-414.05 listed separately covered codes, CPT 33999 added non-covered codes, ICD-9 procedure 36.32 added non-covered codes

8/28/2006: Policy reviewed, no changes

9/18/2006:  Coding updated.  ICD9 2006 revisions added to policy.

9/19/2007: Code reference section updated. ICD-9 2007 revisions added to policy. Policy reviewed, no changes

9/19/2008: Annual ICD-9 updates effective 10-1-2008 applied

10/7/2008: Policy reviewed, no changes

06/03/2010: Policy description updated regarding new treatment approaches. Policy statement revised to include criteria to support medical necessity for patients with class III or IV angina, who are not candidates for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) surgery. FEP verbiage added to the Policy Exceptions section. Deleted outdated references from the Sources section.  Added ICD-9 codes 411.1 and 414.8-414.9 to the Covered Codes table.

09/23/2011: Policy reviewed; no changes.

09/27/2012:  Policy reviewed; no changes.

The code(s) listed below are ONLY covered if the procedure is performed according to the "Policy" section of this document. 

Covered Codes

The code(s) listed below and ANY code not listed in the previous section are considered non-covered for this procedure. 

Non-Covered Codes

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