Appendectomy ICD-10-CM Codes

What ICD-10 codes are used for appendectomy?

There are currently four ICD-10 codes used for appendectomy-related medical cases:

1. T81.30XA

• This ICD-10 code stands for Disruption of wound, unspecified, initial encounter. This code is for patients who are confirmed to be in pain because of the reopening of a wound that was surgically closed. The term often used for this is wound dehiscence. In the context of this topic, this ICD-10 code is meant for people whose wounds from an appendectomy have reopened.

• This is an unspecified ICD-10 code, meaning that it’s meant to be used on patients who are known to be dealing with wound dehiscence, but it is not specific as to what type of wound it is and what it is a result of.

• The initial encounter means that the patient is currently receiving active treatment for something. 

2. T81.30XD

• This ICD-10 code stands for Disruption of wound, unspecified, subsequent encounter. Like the previous ICD-10 code, this is meant to be used on patients in pain because of a wound that reopened after an appendectomy supposedly closed it.

• It is also an unspecified ICD-10 code, so it’s not specific as to what type of wound the patient is dealing with, nor what caused it. You can use this on wounds that reopened post-appendectomy.

• The subsequent encounter means that the patient is in the recovery phase of the treatment and they’re still being given routine care throughout this phase.

3. T81.30XS

• This ICD-10 code stands for Disruption of wound, unspecified, sequela. This is also the same as the previous two ICD-10 codes. It’s meant to be used on patients dealing with a particular condition caused by the disruption of a wound. In the context of this topic, it would relate to an appendectomy.

• It is also an unspecified ICD-10 code, so it’s not specific as to what type of wound the patient is dealing with nor what caused it. You can use this on wounds that reopened post-appendectomy.

• Sequela is the late effects of a certain problem. Given this, this ICD-10 code should be accompanied by two other ICD-10 codes, one of which should designate the sequela’s nature, while the other should describe the sequela (meaning its effects).

4. Z90.49

• This ICD-10 code stands for Acquired absence of other specified parts of digestive tract. This ICD-10 code entails patients missing a certain part of their digestive tract. In this case, it’s the absence of the appendix due to an appendectomy.

• This ICD-10 code is not suitable to be used as a principal diagnosis. In fact, it’s not even really a diagnosis. This code is meant to be used just to explain a circumstance about a person’s health status.

Which of these Appendectomy codes are billable?

All of them are billable codes and can be used to designate a patient for reimbursement purposes.

Clinical information:

The appendix is this worm-shaped tube located in the lower right part of our abdomens. It’s unclear to this day what its function is, but what people do know is that people can suffer from appendicitis, which is a condition in which the appendix becomes inflamed or diseased. Appendicitis can be caused by poop, mucus, and even parasites (yuck!).

Appendicitis is painful and can be life-threatening if it bursts. It can even lead to a belly infection known as peritonitis. This can kill anyone if left untreated. The only way to treat appendicitis is to have the person go through an appendectomy, a surgical procedure that removes the appendix.

In relation to the ICD-10 codes discussed here, they can be used if any wounds closed during the appendectomy open up again and have caused complications.

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Synonyms include:

• Dehiscence of appendectomy wound
• Dehiscence of surgical wound
• Dehiscence of wound of skin
• Perineal wound dehiscence
• Superficial dehiscence of wound
• Traumatic wound dehiscence
• Wound dehiscence