2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K44.1Diaphragmatic hernia with gangrene
ICD-10-CM Codes›K00–K95›K40-K46›K44
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- MCC — Major Complication or Comorbidity
- Not Chronic
K44.1 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for diaphragmatic hernia with 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, 791, 793. As a secondary diagnosis, it counts as a major complication or comorbidity (MCC) and places an inpatient stay in the highest severity level of its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 6 closely related codes. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Abdominal hernia and Gangrene.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Diaphragmatic hernia with gangrene
- Gangrenous paraesophageal hernia
- Gastric necrosis
- Hiatal hernia with gangrene AND obstruction
- Hiatus hernia with gangrene
- Hiatus hernia with obstruction
- Obstructed diaphragmatic hernia
- Obstructed diaphragmatic hernia with gangrene
- Obstructed paraesophageal hernia
- Paraesophageal hernia
- Paraesophageal hernia with gangrene AND obstruction
Instructional NotesGuidance
Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to K44.1: its own notes plus those printed at K44, 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.
- hiatus hernia (esophageal) (sliding)
- paraesophageal hernia
- 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.
- Gangrenous diaphragmatic hernia
Excludes1
Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
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.
- 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.
- 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 K44.1, its category, or a range that includes it.
Excludes1 1
These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming K44.1: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
- I96 Gangrene, not elsewhere classifiedgangrene in hernia (K40.1, K40.4, K41.1, K41.4, K42.1, K43.1-, K44.1, K45.1, K46.1)
Excludes2 3
These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming K44.1: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.
- J98.6 Disorders of diaphragmdiaphragmatic hernia (K44.-) names K44.-, which includes this code
- Block K20-K31 Diseases of esophagus, stomach and duodenumhiatus hernia (K44.-) names K44.-, which includes this code
- K56.7 Ileus, unspecified
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.
Clinical InformationClinical
Hernia, Diaphragmatic
protrusion of abdominal structures into the thorax as a result of congenital or traumatic defects in the respiratory diaphragm.
Patient EducationClinical
Gangrene
Gangrene is the death of tissues in your body. It happens when a part of your body loses its blood supply. Gangrene can happen on the surface of the body, such as on the skin, or inside the body, in muscles or organs. Causes include:
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert K44.1 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About K44.1Overview
What is the ICD-10 code for diaphragmatic hernia with gangrene?
The ICD-10-CM code for diaphragmatic hernia with gangrene is K44.1 (sometimes written as K441). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Is K44.1 (Diaphragmatic hernia) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report diaphragmatic hernia with gangrene on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What MS-DRG does K44.1 group to?
When diaphragmatic hernia with gangrene is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 793, 791, 394, 395, 393, with relative weights from 0.6379 to 4.2192 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is K44.1 a CC or MCC?
CMS lists K44.1 as an MCC (major complication or comorbidity) for FY 2027. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it places the inpatient stay in the highest-weighted DRG of its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 6 closely related codes in its exclusion list.
Can K44.1 be reported with Q79.0?
Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at K44, which applies to K44.1, lists "congenital diaphragmatic hernia (Q79.0)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
