Umbilical hernia without obstruction or gangrene

This code represents an umbilical hernia that is reducible and does not show signs of complications such as bowel obstruction or tissue death. It signifies a protrusion of abdominal contents through a defect in the abdominal wall at the umbilicus, without acute compromise.

Use this code for patients diagnosed with an umbilical hernia where the clinical documentation explicitly states the absence of obstruction, incarceration, or gangrene. This is appropriate for elective repairs or when monitoring an asymptomatic umbilical hernia. Documentation should confirm the hernia's location and lack of acute complications.

• Do not use this code if the documentation indicates any form of obstruction, incarceration, or gangrene; use a more specific code from the K42 series.
• Ensure the physician's notes clearly state "without obstruction or gangrene" or similar phrasing to support this specific code.
• Consider sequencing this code as a primary diagnosis when the umbilical hernia is the main reason for the encounter (e.g., for evaluation or elective repair).