FY2027
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Excludes1 pair

K90.2 vs Q43.8

K90.2 and Q43.8 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 K90.2
congenital blind loop syndrome (Q43.8)
K90.2

Blind loop syndrome, not elsewhere classified

BillableUnspecified
Chapter 11
Diseases of the digestive system
Section
K90-K95
Use when the record says
  • Blind loop syndrome NOS
Indexed under
  • Blind › loop syndrome
  • Lane's › syndrome
  • Obstruction, obstructed, obstructive › lacteal, with steatorrhea
  • Steatorrhea › with lacteal obstruction
  • Syndrome › blind loop
Q43.8

Other specified congenital malformations of intestine

BillableUnspecified
Chapter 17
Congenital malformations, deformations, chromosomal abnormalities, and genetic disorders
Section
Q38-Q45
Use when the record says
  • Congenital blind loop syndrome
  • Congenital diverticulitis, colon
  • Congenital diverticulum, intestine
  • Dolichocolon
  • Megaloappendix
  • Megaloduodenum
  • Microcolon
  • Transposition of appendix
Indexed under
  • Dolichocolon
  • Megaloappendix
  • Megaloduodenum
  • Microcolon (congenital)
  • Microvillus inclusion disease (MVD) (MVID)

These two codes sit in different chapters of the Tabular List, which is usually the clearest signal that they describe different underlying processes rather than different degrees of the same one.

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