K51.512

Billable

Left sided colitis with intestinal obstruction

HCC Category Mapping

RxHCCHCC 67 — Inflammatory Bowel Disease

0.000

What This Code Means

Inflammation of the left side of the colon that is blocking the passage of stool through the intestines.

Coding Tips

•Intestinal obstruction in colitis is a serious complication that may require hospitalization or surgical intervention
•Confirm that the obstruction is secondary to the colitis and not from another cause such as stricture or malignancy

Clinical Significance

Left-sided ulcerative colitis with intestinal obstruction is a serious complication indicating bowel blockage from the inflammatory process in the descending colon. This may result from stricture formation, severe inflammatory edema, or toxic dilation, and typically requires hospitalization with possible surgical intervention.

Documentation Requirements

✓Confirmed left-sided ulcerative colitis diagnosis
✓Imaging evidence of intestinal obstruction (CT abdomen, abdominal X-ray)
✓Documentation of obstruction type (partial vs. complete) and mechanism
✓Provider statement linking obstruction to the colitis
✓Treatment plan including bowel rest, decompression, or surgical management
✓Assessment for toxic megacolon

Commonly Confused Codes

K51.512 vs K56.69 — K56.69 is other intestinal obstruction unrelated to inflammatory bowel disease K51.512 vs K51.012 — K51.012 is pancolitis with obstruction (more extensive disease)K51.512 vs K51.312 — K51.312 is rectosigmoiditis with obstruction (more limited)K51.512 vs K91.3x — K91.3x is postprocedural intestinal obstruction; different etiology

Code Hierarchy

└K51Ulcerative colitis └K51.5Left sided colitis └K51.51Left sided colitis with complications └K51.512Left sided colitis with intestinal obstruction

└K51.512Left sided colitis with intestinal obstruction