K55.021

Billable

Focal (segmental) acute infarction of small intestine

HCC Category Mapping

V24HCC 107 — Vascular Disease with Complications

0.450

ESRDHCC 107 — Vascular Disease with Complications

0.000

What This Code Means

Death of tissue in a specific segment of the small intestine due to loss of blood supply.

Coding Tips

•Infarction indicates irreversible tissue damage; distinguish from reversible ischemia codes (K55.01x)
•Document the extent (focal vs. diffuse) and any associated complications like perforation

Clinical Significance

Focal acute infarction of small intestine represents tissue death requiring emergency surgical intervention and intensive care management. This condition carries high mortality risk and indicates severe vascular disease with established bowel necrosis requiring immediate treatment.

Documentation Requirements

✓Acute severe abdominal pain documented
✓Imaging confirmation of segmental bowel infarction
✓Documentation of focal/segmental involvement
✓Evidence of tissue necrosis or death
✓Surgical findings if operative intervention performed
✓Underlying vascular pathology identified
✓Emergency treatment and outcomes documented

Commonly Confused Codes

K55.011 — Focal ischemia when tissue is still viable/reversible K55.022 — Diffuse infarction when multiple segments involved K55.029 — Unspecified extent when focal pattern documented K92.2 — GI bleeding without established infarction

Code Hierarchy

└K55Vascular disorders of intestine └K55.0Acute vascular disorders of intestine └K55.02Acute infarction of small intestine └K55.021Focal (segmental) acute infarction of small intestine

└K55.021Focal (segmental) acute infarction of small intestine