K31.5 vs K56
K31.5 (Obstruction of duodenum) compared with K56 (Paralytic ileus and intestinal obstruction without hernia), from the official CMS tabular data. Do not report these codes together: the official tabular list marks them Excludes1.
Can these codes be reported together?
No — do not report together. K56 carries an Excludes1 note covering K31.5: “obstruction of duodenum (K31.5)”
Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
Side by side
| K31.5Obstruction of duodenum | K56Paralytic ileus and intestinal obstruction without hernia | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Billable | Non-billable header |
| Classification | K00-K95 — Diseases of the Digestive System (K00-K95) | K00-K95 — Diseases of the Digestive System (K00-K95) |
| Definition | Obstruction of duodenum is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (K31.5). | Paralytic ileus and intestinal obstruction without hernia is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (K56). |
| Includes | functional disorders of stomach Constriction of duodenum Duodenal ileus (chronic) Stenosis of duodenum | — |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources