Intestinal failure

This code represents a severe reduction in functional gut mass below the minimum necessary for adequate absorption of macronutrients and/or water and electrolytes, requiring intravenous supplementation to maintain health and/or growth. It signifies a state where the intestine cannot adequately digest and absorb nutrients from food, leading to malnutrition and dependence on parenteral nutrition.

Use this code for patients diagnosed with chronic intestinal failure, often due to conditions like short bowel syndrome, extensive Crohn's disease, or motility disorders, who require long-term parenteral nutrition. Documentation should clearly state the diagnosis of intestinal failure and the ongoing need for nutritional support, typically intravenous.

• Differentiate from malabsorption (K90.9) or other specific malabsorption syndromes if the primary issue is not a critical reduction in functional gut.
• Always code the underlying cause of the intestinal failure first, if known and applicable (e.g., short bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease).
• Ensure documentation specifies "intestinal failure" rather than just "malnutrition" or "dependence on TPN" to support this specific code.