2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K46.9Unspecified abdominal hernia without obstruction or gangrene

ICD-10-CM Codes›K00–K95›K40-K46›K46

ICD-10-CM K46.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

K46.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified abdominal 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. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Abdominal hernia.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
K46.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Unspecified abdominal hernia without obstruction or gangrene
Short Description
Unspecified abdominal hernia without obstruction or gangrene
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
K46
Unspecified abdominal hernia

Code Classification

ChapterK00–K95Diseases of the digestive system
SectionK40-K46Hernia
CategoryK46Unspecified abdominal hernia
This CodeK46.9Unspecified abdominal hernia without obstruction or gangrene

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Abdominal hernia as complication of peritoneal dialysis
  • Enterocele
  • Epiplocele
  • Hernia of abdominal cavity
  • Hernia of body cavity structure
  • Intermuscular hernia
  • Interstitial hernia
  • Intestinal hernia
  • Intra-abdominal hernia
  • Male enterocele
  • Malrotation of intestine with internal herniation
  • Primary intra-abdominal hernia
  • Secondary hernia of abdomen

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to K46.9: its own notes plus those printed at K46, 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 K46 Unspecified abdominal hernia applies to 3 codes
  • enterocele
  • epiplocele
  • hernia NOS
  • interstitial hernia
  • intestinal hernia
  • intra-abdominal hernia
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.

  • Abdominal hernia NOS

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

From K46 Unspecified abdominal hernia applies to 3 codes
  • vaginal enterocele (N81.5)

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 K46.9, its category, or a range that includes it.

Applicable To 1

These notes mention K46.9.

  • K46.1 Unspecified abdominal hernia with gangrene
    Any condition listed under K46 specified as gangrenous names K46, which includes this code

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming K46.9: 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

    protrusion of tissue, structure, or part of an organ through the bone, muscular tissue, or the membrane by which it is normally contained. hernia may involve tissues such as the abdominal wall or the respiratory diaphragm. hernias may be internal, external, congenital, or acquired.

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 K46.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
553.29 Ventral hernia NEC
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
553.9 Hernia NOS
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 K46.9Overview

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

The ICD-10-CM code for unspecified abdominal hernia without obstruction or gangrene is K46.9 (sometimes written as K469). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is K46.9 (Unspecified abdominal hernia) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does K46.9 group to?

When unspecified abdominal 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.

Can K46.9 be reported with N81.5?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at K46, which applies to K46.9, lists "vaginal enterocele (N81.5)". 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).

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of K46.9?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, unspecified abdominal hernia without obstruction or gangrene converts to ICD-9-CM 553.29 (ventral hernia NEC) and 553.9 (hernia NOS). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.