K56.52 Intestinal adhesions [bands] with complete obstruction

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026. Acts as a Complication or Comorbidity (CC) as a secondary diagnosis.

Applies from K56 Paralytic ileus and intestinal obstruction without hernia

Excludes1 (never code together)

• congenital stricture or stenosis of intestine (Q41-Q42)
• cystic fibrosis with meconium ileus (E84.11)
• ischemic stricture of intestine (K55.1)
• meconium ileus NOS (P76.0)
• neonatal intestinal obstructions classifiable to P76.-
• obstruction of duodenum (K31.5)
• postprocedural intestinal obstruction (K91.3-)

Excludes2 (not included here)

• stenosis of anus or rectum (K62.4)

Applies from K56.5 Intestinal adhesions [bands] with obstruction (postinfection)

Applicable to

• Abdominal hernia due to adhesions with obstruction
• Peritoneal adhesions [bands] with intestinal obstruction (postinfection)

Risk adjustment (HCC)

• CMS-HCC V28: HCC 78 — Intestinal Obstruction/Perforation
• CMS-HCC V22: HCC 33 — Intestinal Obstruction/Perforation
• ESRD V24: HCC 33

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 388-390 in MDC 06.

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• 560.81 Intestinal or peritoneal adhesions with obstruction (postoperative) (postinfection) (approximate)

Code annotations containing back-references to K56.52

Back-references to K56.5

• Type 1 Excludes: K66.0 Peritoneal adhesions (postprocedural) (postinfection) ("peritoneal adhesions with intestinal obstruction (K56.5-)")

Back-references to K56

• Type 1 Excludes: P76.8 Other specified intestinal obstruction of newborn ("intestinal obstruction classifiable to K56.-")

Diagnosis Index entries for K56.52

• Adhesions, adhesive (postinfective) › with intestinal obstruction › complete
• Adhesions, adhesive (postinfective) › intestine › with obstruction › complete
• Adhesions, adhesive (postinfective) › peritoneum, peritoneal (postinfective) › with obstruction (intestinal) › complete
• Band (s) › obstructive › intestine › complete
• Band (s) › obstructive › peritoneum › complete
• Obstruction, obstructed, obstructive › intestine › with › adhesions (intestinal) (peritoneal) › complete

Nearby codes

• K56.41 Fecal impaction
• K56.49 Other impaction of intestine
• K56.5 Intestinal adhesions [bands] with obstruction (postinfection)
• K56.50 Intestinal adhesions [bands], unspecified as to partial versus complete obstruction
• K56.51 Intestinal adhesions [bands], with partial obstruction
• K56.52 Intestinal adhesions [bands] with complete obstruction (this code)
• K56.6 Other and unspecified intestinal obstruction
• K56.60 Unspecified intestinal obstruction
• K56.600 Partial intestinal obstruction, unspecified as to cause
• K56.601 Complete intestinal obstruction, unspecified as to cause
• K56.609 Unspecified intestinal obstruction, unspecified as to partial versus complete obstruction