K91.2

Billable

Postsurgical malabsorption, not elsewhere classified

HCC Category Mapping

RxHCCHCC 66 — Pancreatic Disease and Disorders

0.000

What This Code Means

Poor nutrient absorption in the intestines that develops as a direct result of prior gastrointestinal surgery.

Coding Tips

•Ensure documentation clearly establishes the temporal relationship between the surgical procedure and the onset of malabsorption
•Do not use this code if malabsorption is due to a primary intestinal disease; it should be specifically postsurgical

Clinical Significance

Postsurgical malabsorption represents a significant complication of gastrointestinal surgery that impacts long-term patient outcomes and quality of life. This condition requires ongoing nutritional monitoring and specialized management to prevent serious complications.

Documentation Requirements

✓History of gastrointestinal surgery
✓Temporal relationship between surgery and malabsorption
✓Evidence of impaired nutrient absorption
✓Specific type of surgery performed
✓Clinical manifestations of malabsorption
✓Nutritional deficiencies documented
✓Exclusion of other malabsorption causes
✓Current nutritional management strategies

Excludes 1 — Do NOT code together

malabsorption osteomalacia in adults (M83.2)
malabsorption osteoporosis, postsurgical (M80.8-, M81.8)

Commonly Confused Codes

K90.821/822 — Short bowel syndrome specifies anatomical configuration K90.89 — Other malabsorption when surgery is not the cause K91.89 — Other postprocedural disorders without malabsorption K90.9 — Unspecified malabsorption when surgical cause is known

Code Hierarchy

└K91Intraoperative and postprocedural complications and disorders of digestive system, not elsewhere classified └K91.2Postsurgical malabsorption, not elsewhere classified

└K91.2Postsurgical malabsorption, not elsewhere classified