2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K68.11Postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess

ICD-10-CM Codes›K00–K95›K65-K68›K68

ICD-10-CM K68.11
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

K68.11 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 856 through 858, 862 through 863. Coders also document this condition as postprocedural intraabdominal abscess. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Peritonitis and intra-abdominal abscess.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
K68.11
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess
Short Description
Postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
K68.1
Retroperitoneal abscess

Code Classification

ChapterK00–K95Diseases of the digestive system
SectionK65-K68Diseases of peritoneum and retroperitoneum
CategoryK68Disorders of retroperitoneum
This CodeK68.11Postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Postprocedural intraabdominal abscess
  • Postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess
  • Retroperitoneal abscess

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Type 2 Excludes

  • infection following procedure T81.4

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Abscess(connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
      • intra-abdominal
        • postprocedural
          • retroperitoneal
    • Abscess(connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
      • postoperative (any site)
        • retroperitoneal
    • Abscess(connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
      • retroperitoneal NEC
        • postprocedural

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR DIG016
Peritonitis and intra-abdominal abscess
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Retroperitoneal Abscess

    an abscess that is located in the abdominal cavity posterior to the peritoneum.

Patient EducationClinical

Abscess

An abscess is a pocket of pus. You can get an abscess almost anywhere in your body. When an area of your body becomes infected, your body's immune system tries to fight the infection. White blood cells go to the infected area, collect within the damaged tissue, and cause inflammation. During this process, pus forms.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert K68.11 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
998.59 Other postop infection
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 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About K68.11Overview

Is K68.11 (Retroperitoneal abscess) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does K68.11 group to?

When postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 856, 857, 858, 862, 863, with relative weights from 0.9979 to 4.5487 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of K68.11?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess converts to ICD-9-CM 998.59 (other postop infection). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.