Excludes1 pair
K31.5 vs K56-
K31.5 and K56 are not coded together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note — the two conditions are not expected to occur together, so exactly one of them is normally correct for a given encounter. The Official Guidelines carve out one exception: if the two conditions are clearly unrelated to each other, both may be reported.
The official note, declared on K56
obstruction of duodenum (K31.5)
K31.5
Obstruction of duodenum
Billable
- Chapter 11
- Diseases of the digestive system
- Section
- K20-K31
Use when the record says
- Constriction of duodenum
- Duodenal ileus (chronic)
- Stenosis of duodenum
- Stricture of duodenum
- Volvulus of duodenum
Indexed under
- Cicatrix › duodenum, obstructive (bulb)
- Constriction › duodenum
- Ileus › duodenal (chronic)
- Obstruction, obstructed, obstructive › duodenum
- Scar, scarring › duodenum, obstructive
K56
Paralytic ileus and intestinal obstruction without hernia
Not billable
- Chapter 11
- Diseases of the digestive system
- Section
- K55-K64
Excludes1 is not always absolute: where two conditions covered by the note are genuinely unrelated, CMS guidance permits reporting both. Document the reasoning rather than assuming it. More on Excludes1 vs Excludes2 · FY2027