Chronic or unspecified gastric ulcer with hemorrhage

This code signifies a long-standing or uncharacterized ulceration within the stomach lining that is actively bleeding. The hemorrhage can range from occult blood loss to significant gastrointestinal bleeding. It indicates an ongoing or undiagnosed gastric ulcer complicated by blood loss.

Apply this code when documentation specifies a chronic gastric ulcer with evidence of hemorrhage, or when the chronicity is not specified but hemorrhage is present. Supporting documentation includes endoscopy reports noting a bleeding gastric ulcer, pathology reports confirming ulceration with hemorrhage, or physician notes detailing chronic gastric ulcer with signs/symptoms of bleeding (e.g., melena, hematemesis, anemia due to blood loss).

• Distinguish from acute gastric ulcers with hemorrhage (K25.0, K25.2). The chronicity must be documented or implied by the lack of acute specification.
• Always code the underlying cause of the hemorrhage if known and documented (e.g., medication-induced, stress ulcer).
• Ensure documentation clearly links the hemorrhage to the gastric ulcer; do not assume causation.