2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K43.9Ventral hernia without obstruction or gangrene

ICD-10-CM Codes›K00–K95›K40-K46›K43

ICD-10-CM K43.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

K43.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for ventral hernia without obstruction or gangrene. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 393 through 395. Coders also document this condition as epigastric hernia. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Abdominal hernia.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
K43.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Ventral hernia without obstruction or gangrene
Short Description
Ventral hernia without obstruction or gangrene
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
K43
Ventral hernia

Code Classification

ChapterK00–K95Diseases of the digestive system
SectionK40-K46Hernia
CategoryK43Ventral hernia
This CodeK43.9Ventral hernia without obstruction or gangrene

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Epigastric hernia
  • Hernia of anterior abdominal wall
  • Recurrent epigastric hernia
  • Recurrent hernia of anterior abdominal wall
  • Recurrent spigelian hernia
  • Rupture of hernia of abdominal wall
  • Spigelian hernia
  • Spigelian hernia with cryptorchidism syndrome

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to K43.9: its own notes plus those printed at block K40-K46 and Chapter 11. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

From Block K40-K46 Hernia applies to 45 codes
  • acquired hernia
  • congenital [except diaphragmatic or hiatus] hernia
  • recurrent hernia

Applicable To

Conditions this code is used for: synonyms of the title or, for "other specified" codes, the conditions assigned to it. The list is not exhaustive.

  • Epigastric hernia
  • Ventral hernia NOS

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Chapter 11 (K00-K95) Diseases of the digestive system applies to 863 codes
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
  • complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
  • congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
  • endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Block K40-K46 Hernia applies to 45 codes
  • Hernia with both gangrene and obstruction is classified to hernia with gangrene.

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name K43.9, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming K43.9: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • K56.7 Ileus, unspecified
    intestinal obstruction with hernia (K40-K46) names K40-K46, which includes this code

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR DIG010
Abdominal hernia
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Hernia, Ventral

    a hernia caused by weakness of the anterior abdominal wall due to midline defects, previous incisions, or increased intra-abdominal pressure. ventral hernias include umbilical hernia, incisional, epigastric, and spigelian hernias.

Patient EducationClinical

Hernia

A hernia happens when part of an internal organ or tissue bulges through a weak area of muscle. Most hernias are in the abdomen.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert K43.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
553.20 Ventral hernia NOS
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
553.29 Ventral hernia NEC
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About K43.9Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for ventral hernia without obstruction or gangrene?

The ICD-10-CM code for ventral hernia without obstruction or gangrene is K43.9 (sometimes written as K439). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is K43.9 (Ventral hernia) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report ventral hernia without obstruction or gangrene on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does K43.9 group to?

When ventral hernia without obstruction or gangrene is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 394, 395, 393, with relative weights from 0.6379 to 1.5877 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of K43.9?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, ventral hernia without obstruction or gangrene converts to ICD-9-CM 553.20 (ventral hernia NOS) and 553.29 (ventral hernia NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.