33949 Ecmo/ecls daily management artery
Also known as: ECMO daily management arterial, ECLS daily care arterial, arterial ECMO maintenance
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation/extracorporeal life support daily management with arterial circulation support; ongoing management of arterial ECMO including oxygenation, anticoagulation, and hemodynamic monitoring.
In Plain Language
Daily care of heart-lung machine with artery connection; Life support system management
Clinical Context
Daily management of arterial ECMO including circuit monitoring, pump flow, oxygenation, anticoagulation, hemodynamics, perfusion assessment, and cannula surveillance.
RVU Breakdown
| Work RVU | 4.49 |
| Total RVU | 4.49 |
Est. Medicare Payment
National estimate based on 2026 CMS PFS Conversion Factor ($33.40). Actual payment varies by locality (GPCI adjustment).
Billing & Documentation
As a surgical CPT code, proper documentation must include the operative report detailing the procedure performed, patient positioning, approach, findings, and any complications. Ensure the diagnosis code (ICD-10) supports medical necessity for the procedure.
How This Code Compares
With a work RVU of 4.49, this code ranks in the 31st percentile among Surgery codes — 1.8x below the median (8.00). The highest wRVU in this category is 106.19.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 33949?
CPT 33949 (Ecmo/ecls daily management artery) is a Surgery code. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation/extracorporeal life support daily management with arterial circulation support; ongoing management of arterial ECMO including oxygenation, anticoagulation, and hemodynamic monitoring.
What is the wRVU value for CPT 33949?
The work RVU for CPT 33949 is 4.49. This code is primarily used by Critical Care, Cardiac Surgery, Intensive Care.
When is CPT 33949 used?
Daily management of arterial ECMO including circuit monitoring, pump flow, oxygenation, anticoagulation, hemodynamics, perfusion assessment, and cannula surveillance.
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CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Data sourced from CMS Physician Fee Schedule RVU26A. Descriptions, synonyms, and clinical context are original content by RVU Edge.