Gastroparesis is a disorder that affects the stomach’s ability to empty itself of food in a normal, timely fashion, also known as delayed gastric emptying. This condition happens when the muscles of the stomach, controlled by the vagus nerve, do not work correctly to move food into the small intestine. Patients often experience symptoms like nausea, vomiting, feeling full after eating only a small amount, and abdominal bloating. To manage patient records and ensure proper billing, medical professionals must use a standardized system to classify medical conditions. The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), serves this function by assigning unique codes to diagnoses.
Understanding the ICD-10 System
The ICD-10 system is a globally recognized standard for classifying diseases, symptoms, and external causes of injury or disease. Its primary purpose is to provide a consistent language for health professionals, enabling the accurate recording of health information, statistics, and reimbursement claims. The code structure is alphanumeric, including both letters and numbers, and it allows for greater specificity than previous classification systems. Each code begins with a letter followed by two numbers to form a three-character category that broadly defines the disease or injury. After the initial three characters, a decimal point is used, and subsequent characters add detail regarding the cause, anatomical site, or severity. An ICD-10 code can range from three to a maximum of seven characters, ensuring that a diagnosis is recorded with the greatest possible precision for data analysis and clinical management.
Identifying the Core Code for Gastroparesis
The specific ICD-10 code assigned to gastroparesis is K31.84, which is used for billing and diagnosis documentation. This code falls under the chapter dedicated to Diseases of the Digestive System. The initial three characters, K31, represent the category for “Other diseases of stomach and duodenum,” positioning the condition within the correct anatomical system. The characters following the decimal point, .84, provide the specific detail that narrows the diagnosis from a general stomach disorder to gastroparesis. This single code is typically used when the underlying cause of the gastroparesis is unknown, often referred to as idiopathic gastroparesis. Because the code is highly specific, it facilitates accurate communication between providers and payers.
Coding Based on Underlying Cause
While K31.84 identifies the condition itself, many cases of gastroparesis are secondary to another medical problem, requiring a complex coding approach. When a clear underlying condition is identified, the ICD-10 system often requires two codes to fully describe the patient’s diagnosis. The most common underlying cause is Diabetes Mellitus, which can damage the vagus nerve over time, leading to diabetic gastroparesis. In these instances, the primary code used describes the type of diabetes along with its neurological complication.
For diabetic gastroparesis, the primary code is E10.43 (Type 1) or E11.43 (Type 2). Both of these codes already include diabetic autonomic neuropathy, which encompasses gastroparesis. K31.84 is then listed as a secondary diagnosis to specify the manifestation as gastroparesis. This dual-coding method ensures that both the underlying disease and the resulting complication are documented. Other secondary causes, such as post-surgical complications, may also necessitate a two-code sequence.