Medicare National Coverage Determinations (NCD) Manual (Pub. 100-03), Ch. 1 § 20.11
Intraoperative Ventricular Mapping
20.11 - Intraoperative Ventricular Mapping
(Rev. 1, 10-03-03)
CIM 35-75
Intraoperative ventricular mapping is the technique of recording cardiac electrical activity
directly from the heart. The recording sites are usually identified from an anatomical grid
and may consist of epicardial, intramural, and endocardial sites. A probe with electrodes
is used to explore these surfaces and generate a map that displays the sequence of
electrical activation. This information is used by the surgeon to locate precisely the site
of an operative intervention.
The intraoperative ventricular mapping procedure is covered under Medicare only for the
uses and medical conditions described below:
• Localize accessory pathways associated with the Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW)
and other preexcitation syndromes;
• Map the sequence of atrial and ventricular activation for drug-resistant
supraventricular tachycardias;
• Delineate the anatomical course of His bundle and/or bundle branches during
corrective cardiac surgery for congenital heart diseases; and
• Direct the surgical treatment of patients with refractory ventricular
tachyarrhythmias.