K81.0 Acute cholecystitis

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

Applicable to

• Abscess of gallbladder
• Angiocholecystitis
• Emphysematous (acute) cholecystitis
• Empyema of gallbladder
• Gangrene of gallbladder
• Gangrenous cholecystitis
• Suppurative cholecystitis

Applies from K81 Cholecystitis

Excludes1 (never code together)

• cholecystitis with cholelithiasis (K80.-)

Use additional code

• code if applicable for associated gangrene of gallbladder (K82.A1), or perforation of gallbladder (K82.A2)

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 444-446 in MDC 07.

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• 575.0 Acute cholecystitis

Code annotations containing back-references to K81.0

Back-references to K81

• Type 1 Excludes: K82.4 Cholesterolosis of gallbladder ("cholesterolosis of gallbladder with cholecystitis (K81.-)")
• Code First: K82.A Disorders of gallbladder in diseases classified elsewhere ("the type of cholecystitis (K81.-), or cholelithiasis with cholecystitis (K80.00-K80.19, K80.40-K80.47, K80.60-K80.67)")
• Type 2 Excludes: K83 Other diseases of biliary tract ("conditions involving the gallbladder (K81-K82)")
• Type 2 Excludes: K83 Other diseases of biliary tract ("conditions involving the cystic duct (K81-K82)")

Diagnosis Index entries for K81.0

• Abscess (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic) › gallbladder
• Cholecystitis › acute (emphysematous) (gangrenous) (suppurative)
• Empyema (acute) (chest) (double) (pleura) (supradiaphragmatic) (thorax) › gallbladder
• Gallbladder › acute
• Septic › gallbladder (acute)
• Suppuration, suppurative › gallbladder (acute)

Nearby codes

• K81 Cholecystitis
• K81.0 Acute cholecystitis (this code)
• K81.1 Chronic cholecystitis
• K81.2 Acute cholecystitis with chronic cholecystitis
• K81.9 Cholecystitis, unspecified