2025 ICD-10-CM code K51
Ulcerative colitis. Use additional code to identify manifestations, such as pyoderma gangrenosum (L88).
Medical necessity for the management of ulcerative colitis is established by the presence of signs, symptoms, and objective findings consistent with the disease.This includes documentation of the severity of symptoms, impact on the patient's quality of life, and the need for treatment to control inflammation, prevent complications, and improve or maintain the patient's overall health status.
Clinicians responsible for diagnosing and managing ulcerative colitis include gastroenterologists, primary care physicians, and in severe cases, colorectal surgeons.Their responsibilities encompass obtaining a thorough medical history, conducting physical examinations, ordering appropriate diagnostic tests (such as colonoscopies and blood tests), prescribing medications to manage inflammation and symptoms, monitoring disease progression, and recommending surgery when necessary.They also provide patient education regarding lifestyle modifications and dietary adjustments to manage the disease.
In simple words: Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition that causes inflammation and sores in the large intestine. Common symptoms include bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps, and needing to go to the bathroom often.
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by inflammation and ulcers in the colon.Symptoms can range from mild to severe and typically include bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and frequent bowel movements.The disease often follows a course of flare-ups and periods of remission.
Example 1: A 25-year-old female presents with complaints of persistent bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fatigue. A colonoscopy reveals continuous inflammation and ulceration in the rectum and sigmoid colon, consistent with ulcerative colitis., A 45-year-old male with a history of ulcerative colitis experiences a severe flare-up with high fever, severe abdominal pain, and profuse bloody diarrhea, requiring hospitalization for intravenous fluids, corticosteroids, and pain management., A 60-year-old female with long-standing ulcerative colitis undergoes routine surveillance colonoscopy, which reveals precancerous changes in the colon lining, leading to a discussion about surgical options to prevent colon cancer.
Documentation should include detailed descriptions of the patient's symptoms (frequency and character of bowel movements, presence of blood or mucus), findings from physical examinations (abdominal tenderness), results of laboratory tests (blood counts, inflammatory markers), endoscopic findings (location and extent of inflammation, presence of ulcers), and any complications.Pathology reports from biopsies taken during colonoscopy should also be documented.
- Specialties:Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine, Colorectal Surgery, Family Medicine
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Office, Ambulatory Surgical Center