Excludes1 pair
K56.0 vs K56.3
K56.0 and K56.3 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 K56.0
gallstone ileus (K56.3)
K56.0
Paralytic ileus
Billable
- Chapter 11
- Diseases of the digestive system
- Section
- K55-K64
Use when the record says
- Paralysis of bowel
- Paralysis of colon
- Paralysis of intestine
Indexed under
- Ileus › adynamic
- Ileus › neurogenic
- Ileus › paralytic
- Paralysis, paralytic › bowel, colon or intestine
- Paralysis, paralytic › colon
K56.3
Gallstone ileus
Billable
- Chapter 11
- Diseases of the digestive system
- Section
- K55-K64
Use when the record says
- Obstruction of intestine by gallstone
Indexed under
- Gallstone › causing intestinal obstruction
- Ileus › due to gallstone (in intestine)
- Ileus › gallstone
- Impaction, impacted › bowel, colon, rectum › by gallstone
- Impaction, impacted › gallstone › in intestine, with obstruction (any part)
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