Foreign body in esophagus

This code signifies the presence of an object, not naturally occurring, lodged within the esophageal lumen. This can range from ingested food boluses to non-food items, causing potential obstruction, irritation, or injury to the esophagus. The foreign body's presence can lead to dysphagia, odynophagia, or respiratory symptoms if aspiration occurs.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates a foreign body is present in the esophagus. This includes scenarios such as accidental ingestion of objects, food impaction, or iatrogenic foreign bodies. Supporting documentation should specify the location as the esophagus and the nature of the foreign body if known.

• Do not use this code for foreign bodies in the pharynx or stomach; use more specific codes for those locations.
• Consider an external cause code (E-code) to describe the circumstances of the foreign body ingestion, if applicable.
• If the foreign body has been successfully removed, this code would still be appropriate for the encounter where it was present.