K51.012

Billable

Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with intestinal obstruction

HCC Category Mapping

RxHCCHCC 67 — Inflammatory Bowel Disease

0.000

What This Code Means

A chronic inflammatory condition affecting the entire colon that causes a blockage or obstruction in the intestines. This represents ulcerative colitis with a mechanical complication preventing normal bowel passage.

Coding Tips

•Document the location and severity of the intestinal obstruction to support medical necessity
•Distinguish between obstruction caused by inflammation versus stricture formation, as this may affect treatment decisions

Clinical Significance

Ulcerative pancolitis with intestinal obstruction represents a serious mechanical complication of chronic colonic inflammation. Obstruction in the setting of ulcerative colitis may indicate stricture formation, toxic megacolon, or severe inflammatory edema, all of which significantly increase morbidity and the likelihood of surgical intervention.

Documentation Requirements

✓Confirmed diagnosis of ulcerative colitis with pancolitis documented by provider
✓Evidence of intestinal obstruction via imaging (abdominal X-ray, CT scan) or clinical findings
✓Documentation of obstruction type: partial versus complete
✓Cause of obstruction linked to ulcerative colitis (stricture, inflammation, vs. other etiology)
✓Treatment plan for the obstruction (conservative management, nasogastric decompression, or surgery)
✓Assessment of disease severity and activity level

Commonly Confused Codes

K51.012 vs K56.69 — K56.69 is other intestinal obstruction not related to inflammatory bowel disease; use K51.012 when obstruction is caused by ulcerative colitis K51.012 vs K50.012 — K50.012 is Crohn disease of small intestine with obstruction; ulcerative colitis affects only the colon K51.012 vs K51.011 — K51.011 is pancolitis with rectal bleeding, not obstruction; select the correct complication K51.012 vs K51.018 — K51.018 is pancolitis with other complication; obstruction has its own specific code

Code Hierarchy

└K51Ulcerative colitis └K51.0Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis └K51.01Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with complications └K51.012Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with intestinal obstruction

└K51.012Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with intestinal obstruction