K55.1 vs K56
K55.1 and K56 can never be reported together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note, meaning the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient — so exactly one of them is correct for any given encounter.
The official note, declared on K56
ischemic stricture of intestine (K55.1)
K55.1
Chronic vascular disorders of intestine
Billable
- Chapter 11
- Diseases of the digestive system
- Section
- K55-K64
Use when the record says
- Chronic ischemic colitis
- Chronic ischemic enteritis
- Chronic ischemic enterocolitis
- Ischemic stricture of intestine
- Mesenteric atherosclerosis
- Mesenteric vascular insufficiency
Indexed under
- Wilkie's disease or syndrome
- Abdomen, abdominal › angina
- Angina › abdominal (attack) (cardiac) (chest) (heart) (pectoris) (syndrome) (vasomotor)
- Angina › intestinal (attack) (cardiac) (chest) (heart) (pectoris) (syndrome) (vasomotor)
- Angina › mesenteric (attack) (cardiac) (chest) (heart) (pectoris) (syndrome) (vasomotor)
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