Maria Lopez presents for an office visit complaining of a tightening in her thro
ID: 122130 • Letter: M
Question
Maria Lopez presents for an office visit complaining of a tightening in her throat when she attempts to swallow. She also states that she feels like she is choking when she tries to drink or eat. Maria also informs the doctor that she has been experiencing this problem for the last two months. She has minimized her food intake because of the discomfort she experiences when she tries to eat. Code 43213 is reported by the physician. What is Maria’s chief complaint? What is the description on code 43213? Does it include the use of fluoroscopy?
Explanation / Answer
Code-43213 is for Dilation of the esophagus with a balloon or dilator, a relatively new code which include flouroscopy, moderate sedation.This is a new code in the GI endoscopic procedure. Given that maria is presenting symptoms of tightening of her throat on swallowing, choking feeling while trying to drink and eat. Physician possibily suspects dysphagia,, caused either by gastroesophageal reflux disese can be treated with medication. Ones caused by motility disorderlike squeezing of the esophageal muscle is corrected by dilation of the passages. An endoscope is inserted into the esophagus and inflated to expand, underlying diseases like the achalasia, where the sphincter muscle at the end of esophagus becomes tight or abnormal schatzi ring or any other motility disorder. Yes it includes the use of fluoroscopy.