Dysphagia following cerebral infarction

This code signifies difficulty or inability to swallow (dysphagia) that occurs as a direct consequence of a cerebral infarction (ischemic stroke). It indicates a neurological impairment of the swallowing mechanism resulting from brain tissue damage due to lack of blood flow. The dysphagia can range from mild difficulty to complete inability to swallow, impacting nutrition and increasing aspiration risk.

Apply this code when documentation clearly links the patient's dysphagia to a prior cerebral infarction. This typically applies to patients experiencing new or worsening swallowing difficulties after a confirmed stroke. Supporting documentation should include a diagnosis of dysphagia and a history of cerebral infarction, with the dysphagia explicitly stated as a sequela.

• Ensure the documentation specifies the dysphagia is a sequela of the cerebral infarction, not an acute manifestation.
• Do not use this code for dysphagia due to other neurological conditions or non-stroke causes.
• Sequence this code after the appropriate code for the cerebral infarction (e.g., I69.3xx for sequelae of cerebral infarction).