2025 CPT code 42809
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Digestive System Feed
Removal of foreign body from pharynx.
Modifiers may be applicable to this code to indicate specific circumstances of the procedure, such as increased procedural services (22), multiple procedures (51), or reduced services (52). Refer to current CPT guidelines.
Medical necessity for this procedure is established by the presence of a foreign body in the pharynx causing symptoms, discomfort, or potential complications like airway obstruction or esophageal perforation. The documentation should clearly indicate the symptoms and the risk if the foreign body is not removed.
In simple words: The doctor removes something stuck in your throat. They might use tools to see it better and then carefully take it out.
This code describes the removal of a foreign body from the pharynx (throat) area. The procedure typically involves visualizing the foreign body using a tongue depressor and possibly an image intensifier, then grasping and removing it with a specialized tool. The pharynx is the area of the throat connecting the nose passages to the trachea (windpipe) and esophagus (tube to the stomach).
Example 1: A child swallows a small toy and it becomes lodged in their pharynx. The physician uses forceps to remove the toy under visualization., An adult has a fish bone stuck in their throat. After localization with an image intensifier, the physician removes the bone., A patient experiences discomfort in their throat after eating. A piece of food is found lodged in the pharynx and subsequently removed.
Documentation should include details about the foreign body (size, type, location), the method of removal, any complications encountered, and the patient's condition before and after the procedure. Pre- and post-operative diagnoses should also be documented.
- Specialties:Otolaryngology, Emergency Medicine
- Place of Service:Office, Inpatient Hospital, Emergency Room - Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center,