What Are the Symptoms of Partial Bowel Obstruction?
Diagnosis of acute small bowel obstruction The diagnosis of majority of cases of bowel obstruction can be made based on clinical presentation and initial plain radiograph of the abdomen. Luminal contrast studies, computed tomography (CT scan), and ultrasonography (US) are utilized in select cases.
How is bowel obstruction coded in ICD-10-CM?Obstruction:K56.69 Other intestinal obstruction.In addition, certain conditions will include a “with” notation and code within the index. See Adhesions entry below from the index:with intestinal obstruction K56.50.
Small bowel obstruction is a partial or complete blockage of the small intestine, which is a part of the digestive system. Small bowel obstruction can be caused by many things, including adhesions, hernia and inflammatory bowel disorders.
An intestinal obstruction occurs when your small or large intestine is blocked. The blockage can be partial or total, and it prevents passage of fluids and digested food. If intestinal obstruction happens, things will build up behind the site of the blockage.
Partial obstruction allows some liquid contents and gas to pass through the point of obstruction, whereas complete obstruction impedes passage of all bowel contents.
Proximal to the point of obstruction, the intestinal tract dilates as it fills with intestinal secretions and swallowed air. 2 Failure of intestinal contents to pass through the intestinal tract leads to a cessation of flatus and bowel movements.
Causes of intestinal obstruction may include fibrous bands of tissue (adhesions) in the abdomen that form after surgery; hernias; colon cancer; certain medications; or strictures from an inflamed intestine caused by certain conditions, such as Crohn's disease or diverticulitis.
There are two types of small bowel obstruction:functional — there is no physical blockage, however, the bowels are not moving food through the digestive tract.mechanical — there is a blockage preventing the movement of food.
Small-bowel obstruction (SBO) is caused by a variety of pathologic processes. The most common cause of SBO in developed countries is intra-abdominal adhesions, accounting for approximately 65% to 75% of cases, followed by hernias, Crohn disease, malignancy, and volvulus.
Mechanical bowel obstruction can be caused by a number of conditions. Some of the most common causes are: 1 Adhesions or scar tissue that forms after surgery 2 Foreign bodies (objects that are swallowed and block the intestines) 3 Gallstones (rare) 4 Hernias 5 Impacted stool 6 Intussusception (telescoping of one segment of bowel into another) 7 Tumors blocking the intestines 8 Volvulus (twisted intestine)
When there is a condition in which the bowel does not work correctly, but there is no structural problem causing it, it is called “ileus.”. We are going to talk about mechanical bowel obstruction in this coding tip. Mechanical bowel obstruction can be caused by a number of conditions. Some of the most common causes are:
Some of the most common causes are: Adhesions or scar tissue that forms after surgery. Foreign bodies (objects that are swallowed and block the intestines) Gallstones (rare) Hernias. Impacted stool. Intussusception (telescoping of one segment of bowel into another) Tumors blocking the intestines.
This is to help relieve abdominal swelling (distention) and vomiting. Volvulus of the large bowel may be treated by passing a tube into the rectum.
In the past, bowel obstruction was almost always coded as a diagnosis as the physician usually addressed the condition and did work up as to the cause, many times addressing the cause also. However that has changed as the coder will see in this coding tip.
The term “postoperative’ can be misleading. A query may be necessary. Take Aways. Coders must be aware of the index entries for intestinal obstruction and follow the index. For conditions in the index, look for “with obstruction” underneath the main entry or subterm entries.
Lastly, if intestinal obstruction is a complication of surgery, code K91.3-, may be warranted. Coders must validate that this is truly intestinal obstruction as a complication of surgery, and not just occurring after surgery due to another cause. The term “postoperative’ can be misleading. A query may be necessary.
Bowel obstruction or intestinal obstruction is a mechanical or functional obstruction of the intestines, preventing the normal transit of the products of digestion. It can occur at any level distal to the duodenum of the small intestine and is a medical emergency. The condition is often treated conservatively over a period of 2–5 days with the patient's progress regularly monitored by an assigned physician. Surgical procedures are performed on occasion however, in life-threatening cases, such as when the root cause is a fully lodged foreign object or malignant tumor.
Use a child code to capture more detail. ICD Code K56.6 is a non-billable code.