In simple words: This code is used when gallstones are left behind in the body after surgery to remove the gallbladder.It means there was a problem during the gallbladder removal surgery.

This code classifies the presence of gallstones remaining in the biliary tract after a cholecystectomy (surgical removal of the gallbladder).It indicates a complication arising after the procedure, specifically the failure to remove all gallstones during the surgery.

Example 1: A patient undergoes a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Post-operative imaging reveals a small gallstone remaining in the common bile duct.This would be coded as K91.86., During an open cholecystectomy, the surgeon encounters difficulty and is unable to completely remove all gallstones due to anatomical variations.Post-operative imaging confirms retained stones. This scenario warrants the use of K91.86., A patient presents with symptoms (e.g., abdominal pain, jaundice) several weeks after a cholecystectomy. Imaging reveals retained gallstones causing biliary obstruction.K91.86 is the appropriate code in conjunction with codes representing the specific complications.

The medical record should clearly document the cholecystectomy procedure, including operative notes detailing the difficulty in removing all gallstones (if applicable), and post-operative imaging studies (e.g., ultrasound, CT scan) confirming the presence of retained cholelithiasis.Any related symptoms or complications should also be documented.

** This code should be used cautiously and only when the retained gallstones are a direct consequence of the cholecystectomy.If the gallstones were pre-existing and simply not discovered during the procedure, a different code (e.g., K80) may be more appropriate.