Aphagia

This code represents the inability or refusal to swallow, a severe form of dysphagia. It signifies a complete or near-complete cessation of oral intake due to swallowing difficulties, often leading to malnutrition and dehydration.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a patient's complete inability to swallow, regardless of the underlying cause (excluding psychogenic). This typically applies to acute or chronic conditions where oral feeding is impossible, necessitating alternative nutritional support. Supporting documentation would include physician notes detailing the patient's inability to ingest food or liquids orally.

• Differentiate from dysphagia (R13.1-), which indicates difficulty swallowing rather than a complete inability.
• Always review documentation to rule out psychogenic aphagia (F50.9) before assigning this code.
• Code any underlying medical condition causing the aphagia first, followed by this code as a manifestation.