Dysphagia, oropharyngeal phase

This code signifies difficulty or impairment in the oral and pharyngeal stages of swallowing. It involves problems with bolus formation, propulsion from the mouth to the pharynx, and passage through the pharynx into the esophagus, often due to neuromuscular dysfunction.

Apply this code when documentation specifies dysphagia localized to the oral and/or pharyngeal phases of swallowing. This is typically supported by findings from a clinical swallow evaluation, modified barium swallow study (MBSS), or fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) that identify issues like poor bolus control, delayed swallow reflex, or pharyngeal residue.

• Differentiate from esophageal dysphagia (R13.13), which involves issues with bolus transport through the esophagus.
• Always seek specific documentation regarding the phase of dysphagia; "dysphagia NOS" (R13.10) is less specific.
• Code any underlying cause of the oropharyngeal dysphagia, such as stroke (I69.-), Parkinson's disease (G20), or head and neck cancer (C00-C14), as a primary diagnosis when appropriate.