Pelvic peritoneal adhesions, female (postoperative) (postinfection)

This code describes the presence of scar tissue that forms between pelvic organs and the peritoneum in females, often as a consequence of prior surgery or infection. These adhesions can cause chronic pelvic pain, infertility, or bowel obstruction by tethering organs together.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states the presence of pelvic peritoneal adhesions in a female patient, particularly when linked to a history of pelvic surgery (e.g., hysterectomy, C-section) or a past pelvic infection (e.g., pelvic inflammatory disease). Supporting documentation should include operative reports, imaging findings, or physician notes detailing the adhesions.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "pelvic" and "peritoneal" adhesions to differentiate from adhesions in other anatomical sites.
• This code is specific to females; do not use for male patients.
• Consider sequencing this code as a secondary diagnosis if the primary reason for the encounter is a complication directly caused by the adhesions (e.g., chronic pelvic pain, infertility).