K55.022

Billable

Diffuse 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 affecting a large portion of the small intestine due to loss of blood supply.

Coding Tips

•Diffuse infarction is more severe and carries higher morbidity; ensure documentation reflects the extent of necrosis
•Consider complications such as sepsis or shock when assigning additional codes

Clinical Significance

Diffuse acute infarction of small intestine represents catastrophic bowel necrosis with extremely high mortality risk requiring emergency surgery. This condition indicates widespread vascular failure with established tissue death throughout multiple segments of small bowel.

Documentation Requirements

✓Acute onset severe abdominal symptoms
✓Imaging showing extensive small bowel infarction
✓Documentation of diffuse/widespread involvement
✓Evidence of established tissue necrosis
✓Surgical findings and interventions performed
✓Vascular pathology and precipitating factors
✓ICU level care and monitoring documented

Commonly Confused Codes

K55.012 — Diffuse ischemia when tissue is still viable K55.021 — Focal infarction when involvement is segmental only K55.029 — Unspecified extent when diffuse pattern documented K55.1 — Chronic vascular disease without acute infarction

Code Hierarchy

└K55Vascular disorders of intestine └K55.0Acute vascular disorders of intestine └K55.02Acute infarction of small intestine └K55.022Diffuse acute infarction of small intestine

└K55.022Diffuse acute infarction of small intestine