2025 ICD-10-CM code K92.2
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Deletion Date: N/A Diseases of the digestive system - Other diseases of the digestive system Chapter 11: Diseases of the digestive system Feed
Gastrointestinal hemorrhage, unspecified. This code is used when the location of the gastrointestinal hemorrhage is unknown.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the circumstances of the encounter and additional procedures or services rendered.Consult the current coding guidelines and NCCI edits.
Medical necessity for the diagnostic and therapeutic interventions related to the gastrointestinal bleed will be supported by the clinical findings, symptoms, and investigations (such as blood tests, imaging, and endoscopic procedures). The severity of the bleeding and the patient’s hemodynamic status will dictate the urgency and level of intervention required. For accurate billing and reimbursement, proper documentation must establish the medical necessity of all performed procedures and tests.
The clinical responsibility for this code depends on the setting and the underlying cause of the hemorrhage. This might involve gastroenterologists, surgeons, or other specialists, based on the location and severity of the bleed.The physician’s duties include diagnosing the source of the bleeding (through history, physical examination, and possibly endoscopy), stabilizing the patient's condition (potentially involving fluid resuscitation and blood transfusions), and determining the appropriate treatment strategy (ranging from medication to surgical intervention).
In simple words: This code means there's bleeding somewhere in the digestive system (from your mouth to your anus), but doctors don't know exactly where the bleeding is coming from.
K92.2, Gastrointestinal hemorrhage, unspecified, is an ICD-10-CM code that represents bleeding from an unspecified location within the gastrointestinal tract.It encompasses any instance of gastrointestinal bleeding where the specific site of origin cannot be determined or is not documented. This includes both upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding when the source remains unclear after investigation.This code should only be applied when more specific codes are not applicable due to insufficient information.Excludes conditions such as neonatal gastrointestinal hemorrhage (P54.-), acute hemorrhagic gastritis (K29.01), hemorrhage of anus and rectum (K62.5), angiodysplasia of the stomach with hemorrhage (K31.811), diverticular disease with hemorrhage (K57.-), gastritis and duodenitis with hemorrhage (K29.-), and peptic ulcer with hemorrhage (K25-K28).
Example 1: A patient presents to the emergency department with hematemesis and melena.Initial investigations are inconclusive regarding the precise location of the bleeding, leading to the use of K92.2.Further investigations (e.g., endoscopy) may lead to a more specific code at a later date., A patient is admitted with symptoms suggestive of a gastrointestinal bleed (abdominal pain, weakness, and dark stools). The patient undergoes an initial evaluation, but the source of the bleeding is not definitively identified through clinical assessment and imaging. The physician assigns K92.2, pending further testing., An elderly patient is found unconscious at home.The patient is taken to the hospital where they are found to have a significant gastrointestinal bleed.Due to the urgency, and without time for a complete workup, K92.2 is used as an initial code, awaiting further evaluation to identify the source of the bleeding.
Detailed history of presenting symptoms (e.g., onset, character, duration, associated symptoms). Physical examination findings (including vital signs, abdominal exam). Results of all relevant laboratory tests (e.g., complete blood count, blood type and crossmatch, coagulation studies, stool guaiac).Reports from any imaging studies (e.g., abdominal x-ray, CT scan). Endoscopy reports if performed, specifying the location and nature of the bleeding, if identified. Documentation of any interventions (e.g., blood transfusions, endoscopic hemostasis).Treatment plan and follow up care.
** This code is for unspecified gastrointestinal hemorrhage.It is crucial to document all efforts made to identify the precise source of bleeding, the patient's response to treatment, and the eventual resolution of the hemorrhage.Failure to document thoroughly may result in denied claims.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Not applicable.
- Specialties:Gastroenterology, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Emergency Room - Hospital, Office, Ambulatory Surgical Center