This 49-year-old female patient is stabilized after having surgery for choledocholithiasis with acute cholangitis and obstruction.

This 49-year-old female patient is stabilized after having surgery for choledocholithiasis with acute cholangitis and obstruction. She has been able to drink fluids and has voided. She is to follow up in my office in 7 days. ICD-10-CM Code: This patient was admitted yesterday and was referred to me by Dr. Jones. Dr. Jones ordered an abdominal scan that confirmed an acute gastric ulcer hemorrhage. I explained to the patient that I will be ordering additional diagnostic tests and she will be given antacids. I will see her later when the results of the lab work are available. ICD-10-CM Code: This 39-year-old patient was referred to me because she has strangulated 4th-degree hemorrhoids. Conservative treatment has not been successful. She wants to discuss surgery. I explained the benefits and the risks, and she gave consent for surgery. Surgery will be scheduled within 1 week. ICD-10-CM Code: This 26-year-old male patient is being seen today to follow up on his Crohn’s disease. At this time, he is being managed with medications. He states that over the last 2 months he has not had any acute exacerbations. At this time, we will continue the current course of treatment. I will see him if symptoms develop or in 3 months. ICD-10-CM Code: This 37-year-old male patient presents today complaining of groin pain. He reports that his pain increases when he lifts and the pain subsides when he lies down. CT scans confirm a diagnosis of inguinal hernia. ICD-10-CM Code:

The Correct Answer and Explanation is:

1. Choledocholithiasis with Acute Cholangitis and Obstruction

ICD-10-CM Code: K83.01
Explanation: This code represents “Choledocholithiasis with acute cholangitis.” The presence of an obstruction is inherent in this diagnosis as cholangitis typically results from obstruction caused by stones in the common bile duct. K83.01 captures the complete picture of this condition without needing a separate code for the obstruction.

2. Acute Gastric Ulcer with Hemorrhage

ICD-10-CM Code: K25.0
Explanation: The code K25.0 indicates “Acute gastric ulcer with hemorrhage.” The patient’s symptoms and imaging confirmed a hemorrhagic ulcer in the stomach, which fits this description. The specificity of this code ensures that the acute nature and the complication (hemorrhage) are both captured in one code.

3. Strangulated 4th-Degree Hemorrhoids

ICD-10-CM Code: K64.4
Explanation: Code K64.4 stands for “Fourth degree hemorrhoids.” While the code does not explicitly include “strangulated,” fourth-degree hemorrhoids are by definition severe and typically remain prolapsed, often becoming thrombosed or strangulated. The need for surgery after failed conservative treatment supports the use of this code.

4. Crohn’s Disease without Complications

ICD-10-CM Code: K50.90
Explanation: This is the appropriate code for “Crohn’s disease, unspecified, without complications.” Since the patient has no current acute symptoms or complications, and the condition is being managed successfully with medication, this unspecified but uncomplicated version of the code is accurate.

5. Inguinal Hernia, Not Specified as Recurrent or with Gangrene

ICD-10-CM Code: K40.20
Explanation: K40.20 stands for “Bilateral inguinal hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, not specified as recurrent.” Since the case involved a confirmed inguinal hernia without complications like obstruction or gangrene, this code applies. If laterality were known, a more specific code (e.g., K40.30 for right-sided) could be used.

Summary Table:

These codes are chosen based on clinical definitions and ICD-10-CM official guidelines to ensure accuracy and proper reimbursement or record-keeping.