Skip to main content

K91.5 ICD-10-CM Code: Postcholecystectomy syndrome

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Coding at a Glance

Tabular directives
7 Excludes2

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v44, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 444 — DISORDERS OF THE BILIARY TRACT WITH MCC (MDC 07)
  • MS-DRG 445 — DISORDERS OF THE BILIARY TRACT WITH CC (MDC 07)
  • MS-DRG 446 — DISORDERS OF THE BILIARY TRACT WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 07)

A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for K91.5 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2027Effective: October 1, 2026

Trace:FY2027 changesChange historyRelease, file and checksum

Notes without a marker are published on K91.5 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Excludes2 — Not Included Here

Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.

Source: inherited from K91

Coder workflow for K91.5

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement
Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).

Official instructions as workflow

  • Excludes2 — not part of K91.5(7 notes)

    Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in K91.5. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

    CompareK94, K95, K28, K68.11, K52.0, K62.7

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.b

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Don’t confuse K91.5 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of K91.5 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

  • K94— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

    Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

    A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

    What moves you there: Documentation of complications of artificial opening of digestive system adds K94; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

    Full comparison: K91.5 vs K94 →

  • K95— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

    Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

    A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

    What moves you there: Documentation of complications of bariatric procedures adds K95; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

    Full comparison: K91.5 vs K95 →

  • K28— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

    Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

    A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

    What moves you there: Documentation of gastrojejunal ulcer adds K28; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

    Full comparison: K91.5 vs K28 →

  • K68.11— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

    Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

    A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

    What moves you there: Documentation of postprocedural (radiation) retroperitoneal abscess adds K68.11; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

    Full comparison: K91.5 vs K68.11 →

  • K52.0— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

    Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

    A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

    What moves you there: Documentation of radiation colitis adds K52.0; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

    Full comparison: K91.5 vs K52.0 →

  • K62.7— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

    Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

    A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

    What moves you there: Documentation of radiation proctitis adds K62.7; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

    Full comparison: K91.5 vs K62.7 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Code Overview

Postcholecystectomy syndrome is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (K91.5).

MedCoder summary Summary composed by MedCoder from this code's official ICD-10-CM record. The tabular instructional notes themselves appear verbatim below.

Indexed Clinical Terms (6)

Official source data — entries quoted as published, in the Index’s own lookup phrasing

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code. These are alphabetic-index entries shown as the Index writes them — lookup phrasing, not necessarily the wording of a final diagnosis.

Official Coding Guidelines

No excerpt in the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines names this code specifically. Its chapter carries only this chapter-wide note:

Chapter 11: Diseases of the Digestive System (K00-K95)

Reserved for future guideline expansion

Verify Before Coding

  • No Medicare Code Editor or MS-DRG Definitions Manual restrictions apply to this code.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name K91.5 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 2 Excludes1 notes: K82 — Other diseases of gallbladder, K83 — Other diseases of biliary tract.

These codes’ tabular lists mark this diagnosis as mutually exclusive — not reported together unless the conditions are documented as unrelated.

Referenced by 1 Excludes2 note: T81 — Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified (via K91.-).

These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2027)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2027 MS-DRG: not on the CMS CC/MCC list — as a secondary diagnosis this code does not change MS-DRG severity for that release.

Named in the grouper logic of 3 MS-DRGs: DRG 444 (MDC 07), DRG 445 (MDC 07), DRG 446 (MDC 07).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):DIG024 — Postprocedural or postoperative digestive system complication (default); DIG017 — Biliary tract disease.

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Related Codes

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical categories (Postprocedural or postoperative digestive system complication, Biliary tract disease).

K83.8 — Other specified diseases of biliary tract, K83.9 — Disease of biliary tract, unspecified, K87 — Disorders of gallbladder, biliary tract and pancreas in diseases classified elsewhere, K91.0 — Vomiting following gastrointestinal surgery, K91.1 — Postgastric surgery syndromes, K91.2 — Postsurgical malabsorption, not elsewhere classified, K91.3 — Postprocedural intestinal obstruction, K91.30 — Postprocedural intestinal obstruction, unspecified as to partial versus complete, K91.31 — Postprocedural partial intestinal obstruction, K91.32 — Postprocedural complete intestinal obstruction, K91.61 — Intraoperative hemorrhage and hematoma of a digestive system organ or structure complicating a digestive system procedure, K91.62 — Intraoperative hemorrhage and hematoma of a digestive system organ or structure complicating other procedure, K91.71 — Accidental puncture and laceration of a digestive system organ or structure during a digestive system procedure, K91.72 — Accidental puncture and laceration of a digestive system organ or structure during other procedure, K91.81 — Other intraoperative complications of digestive system, K91.82 — Postprocedural hepatic failure, K91.83 — Postprocedural hepatorenal syndrome, K91.840 — Postprocedural hemorrhage of a digestive system organ or structure following a digestive system procedure, K91.841 — Postprocedural hemorrhage of a digestive system organ or structure following other procedure, K91.850 — Pouchitis, +93 more

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main term “Remnant”; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

J35.01 — Chronic tonsillitis (tonsil, infected), J35.8 — Other chronic diseases of tonsils and adenoids (tonsil), L60.8 — Other nail disorders (fingernail), N88.8 — Other specified noninflammatory disorders of cervix uteri (cervix, cervical stump), Q14.0 — Congenital malformation of vitreous humor (canal of Cloquet), Q14.8 — Other congenital malformations of posterior segment of eye (capsule), Q64.4 — Malformation of urachus (urachus), Q84.6 — Other congenital malformations of nails (fingernail, congenital), Q89.2 — Congenital malformations of other endocrine glands (thyroglossal duct)

Lab tests where this diagnosis supports Medicare coverage (NCD)

Medicare's National Coverage Determination (NCD) program lists this diagnosis as medical justification for these lab tests.

Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Test, Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) Test, Prothrombin Time Test and INR (PT/INR)

Contextual Map

Every relationship of K91.5 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Run K91.5 with these 3 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

  • T81 — Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified[Excludes2](via K91.-): “intraoperative and postprocedural complications of specific body system (D78.-, E36.-, E89.-, G97.3-, G97.4, H59.3-, H59.-, H95.2-, H95.3, I97.4-, I97.5, J95, K91.-, L76.-, M96.-, N99.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Clinical classification (CCSR)

MS-DRG Grouper

MDC crossing

  • MDC 07 — Diseases and Disorders of the Hepatobiliary System and Pancreas[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Hepatobiliary System and Pancreas — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 2,488 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2027

Index entries

  • Complication (s) (from) (of), gastrointestinal, postoperative, postcholecystectomy syndrome[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Complication (s) (from) (of), surgical procedure (on), postcholecystectomy syndrome[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Postcholecystectomy syndrome[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Remnant, cystic duct, postcholecystectomy[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Syndrome, cystic duct stump[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Syndrome, postcholecystectomy[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes (31)

Change history

  • FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data
CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2027 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2026 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Coding guidelines Official source data
ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (FY2027), quoted by section Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Claim edits Official source data
CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v44.0 (October 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Inpatient payment groups Official source data
CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (incl. Appendix B diagnosis index, Appendix C CC/MCC list, Appendix E procedure index) and IPPS Final Rule tables — v44 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data
CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship
Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears
Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation
Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Cite this page

Reference this page in a research guide, syllabus or article. The release is included because code content changes each year.

MedCoder.ai. "K91.5 — Postcholecystectomy syndrome." ICD-10-CM FY2027. https://medcoder.ai/icd10/code/k91.5-postcholecystectomy-syndrome

Change history

  • FY2016 — October 1, 2015
    In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption
    Postcholecystectomy syndrome

No changes since FY2016 — additions, deletions, description changes and billable-status changes are tracked through FY2027, and none are recorded for this code. Note changes are tracked from FY2027 only.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to K91.5 in its code family, with their registry titles.

View all codes in the K91 family