T18.12
Food in esophagus
Not billable — category only FY2026 2025-10-01 → 2026-09-30
Exclusions 4 never code together
7th character 3
A initial encounter
D subsequent encounter
S sequela
Instructional notes 5
T18.12code
Inclusion terms
- Bones in esophagus
- Seeds in esophagus
S00-T88chapter
Notes
- Use secondary code(s) from Chapter 20, External causes of morbidity, to indicate cause of injury. Codes within the T section that include the external cause do not require an additional external cause code
- The chapter uses the S-section for coding different types of injuries related to single body regions and the T-section to cover injuries to unspecified body regions as well as poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.
Use additional code
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)Z18.-
Index entries leading here 8 filed at T18
The index files this at T18. The tabular
extends it — laterality, staging, or the 7th character — so these entries
lead to the family rather than to T18.12 exactly.
- Food (any type) in
- Asphyxia, asphyxiation
- by
- food (bone) (seed) T18
- by
- Aspiration
- food (any type) (into respiratory tract) (with asphyxia, obstruction respiratory tract, suffocation) T18
- Choked, choking (on) (any object except food or vomitus)
- food (bone) (seed) T18
- Compression
- trachea by
- food (lodged in esophagus) T18
- trachea by
- Suffocation (accidental) (by external means) (by pressure) (mechanical) T71
- due to, by
- food, any type (aspiration) (ingestion) (inhalation) T18
- due to, by
- Inhalation
- food (any type) (into respiratory tract) (with asphyxia, obstruction respiratory tract, suffocation) T18
- Interruption of respiration (by)
- food (lodged in esophagus) T18
Alongside this code 3 same parent — T18.1
Subordinate codes 2
Additional references
AHA Coding Clinic® Licence required
Official coding advice for this code. Published by the American Hospital Association. Not included in this installation.