Vomiting following gastrointestinal surgery

This code signifies the occurrence of emesis (vomiting) as a direct consequence or complication of a surgical procedure involving the gastrointestinal tract. It indicates a post-operative adverse event related to the digestive system's function.

Use this code when documentation clearly states vomiting occurred after a GI surgical intervention, such as gastrectomy, colectomy, or appendectomy. The patient's medical record should specify the temporal relationship between the surgery and the onset of vomiting.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly links the vomiting to the gastrointestinal surgery, not general anesthesia or other post-operative factors.
• Sequence this code as a secondary diagnosis when the primary reason for the encounter is the management of the vomiting or a related complication.
• Do not use for vomiting due to general anesthesia (e.g., 995.81) unless the documentation specifies a GI surgical complication.