2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K68.11Postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess
ICD-10-CM Codes›K00–K95›K65-K6A›K68
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- CC — Complication or Comorbidity
- Not Chronic
K68.11 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 791, 793, 856 through 858, 862 through 863. As a secondary diagnosis, it counts as a complication or comorbidity (CC) and moves an inpatient stay to a higher severity level within its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 55 closely related codes. 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
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Postprocedural intraabdominal abscess
- Postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess
- Retroperitoneal abscess
Instructional NotesGuidance
Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to K68.11: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 11. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.
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.
- infection following procedure (T81.4-)
- 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)
Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.
Referenced in Other NotesGuidance
Instructional notes printed at other codes that name K68.11, its category, or a range that includes it.
Excludes1 2
These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming K68.11: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
Excludes2 4
These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming K68.11: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.
- K91 Intraoperative and postprocedural complications and disorders of digestive system, not elsewhere classifiedpostprocedural (radiation) retroperitoneal abscess (K68.11)
- K91.89 Other postprocedural complications and disorders of digestive systempostprocedural retroperitoneal abscess (K68.11)
- T81.4 Infection following a procedurepostprocedural retroperitoneal abscess (K68.11)
- K6A.0 Pelvic abscessretroperitoneal abscess (K68.1-) names K68.1-, which includes this code
Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance
Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.
Abscess (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic) L02.91
intra-abdominal See Also: Abscess, peritoneum; K65.1
retroperitoneal K68.11
postoperative (any site) See Also: Infection, postoperative wound; T81.49
retroperitoneal K68.11
postprocedural K68.11
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
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.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About K68.11Overview
What is the ICD-10 code for postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess?
The ICD-10-CM code for postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess is K68.11 (sometimes written as K6811). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
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, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
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 793, 791, 858, 856, 857, 863, 862, with relative weights from 0.9868 to 4.4822 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is K68.11 a CC or MCC?
CMS lists K68.11 as a CC (complication or comorbidity) for FY 2027. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it moves the inpatient stay to a higher-weighted DRG within its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 55 closely related codes in its exclusion list.
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.
