2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K72.00Acute and subacute hepatic failure without coma

ICD-10-CM Codes›K00–K95›K70-K77›K72

ICD-10-CM K72.00
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

K72.00 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for acute and subacute hepatic failure without coma. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 441 through 443, 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 8 closely related codes. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Hepatic failure.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
K72.00
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Acute and subacute hepatic failure without coma
Short Description
Acute and subacute hepatic failure without coma
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
K72.0
Acute and subacute hepatic failure

Code Classification

ChapterK00–K95Diseases of the digestive system
SectionK70-K77Diseases of liver
CategoryK72Hepatic failure, not elsewhere classified
This CodeK72.00Acute and subacute hepatic failure without coma

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Acute and subacute liver necrosis
  • Acute hepatic failure
  • Acute infantile liver failure due to synthesis defect of mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid encoded protein
  • Acute infantile liver failure with multisystemic involvement syndrome
  • Acute infantile liver failure, cerebellar ataxia, peripheral sensory motor neuropathy syndrome
  • Acute multi-acinar necrosis of liver
  • Acute necrosis of liver
  • Acute necrosis of liver following ectopic pregnancy
  • Acute necrosis of liver following molar pregnancy
  • Acute on chronic liver failure
  • Acute red atrophy of liver
  • Atrophy of liver
  • Chronic hepatic failure
  • Failed attempted termination of pregnancy complicated by acute necrosis of liver
  • Fever-associated acute infantile liver failure syndrome
  • Parenchymatous degeneration of liver
  • Subacute hepatic failure
  • Subacute hepatic failure caused by hepatitis virus
  • Subacute hepatic necrosis
  • Subfulminant hepatic failure

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to K72.00: its own notes plus those printed at K72, block K70-K77, 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 K72 Hepatic failure, not elsewhere classified applies to 6 codes
  • fulminant hepatitis NEC, with hepatic failure
  • liver (cell) necrosis with hepatic failure
  • malignant hepatitis NEC, with hepatic failure
  • yellow liver atrophy or dystrophy

Excludes1

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

From K72 Hepatic failure, not elsewhere classified applies to 6 codes
  • alcoholic hepatic failure (K70.4)
  • hepatic failure with toxic liver disease (K71.1-)
  • icterus of newborn (P55-P59)
  • postprocedural hepatic failure (K91.82)
From Block K70-K77 Diseases of liver applies to 65 codes
  • jaundice NOS (R17)

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 K72 Hepatic failure, not elsewhere classified applies to 6 codes
  • hepatic failure complicating abortion or ectopic or molar pregnancy (O00-O07, O08.8)
  • hepatic failure complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O26.6-)
  • viral hepatitis with hepatic coma (B15-B19)
From Block K70-K77 Diseases of liver applies to 65 codes
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)

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

From K72 Hepatic failure, not elsewhere classified applies to 6 codes
  • code, if applicable, for ascites (R18.8)

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name K72.00, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 5

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming K72.00: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • K75.2 Nonspecific reactive hepatitis
    acute or subacute hepatitis (K72.0-) names K72.0-, which includes this code
  • K75.3 Granulomatous hepatitis, not elsewhere classified
    acute or subacute hepatitis (K72.0-) names K72.0-, which includes this code
  • K75.9 Inflammatory liver disease, unspecified
    acute or subacute hepatitis (K72.0-) names K72.0-, which includes this code
  • K76.2 Central hemorrhagic necrosis of liver
    liver necrosis with hepatic failure (K72.-) names K72.-, which includes this code
  • R40 Somnolence, stupor and coma
    somnolence, stupor and coma in hepatic failure (K72.-) names K72.-, which includes this code

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming K72.00: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • K75.0 Abscess of liver
    acute or subacute non-viral hepatitis (K72.0) names K72.0, which includes this code

Use Additional Code 3

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and K72.00 is one of the codes named.

  • M31.11 Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy [HSCT-TMA]
    hepatic failure (K72.-) names K72.-, which includes this code
  • R65.11 Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) of non-infectious origin with acute organ dysfunction
    hepatic failure (K72.0-) names K72.0-, which includes this code
  • R65.2 Severe sepsis
    hepatic failure (K72.0-) names K72.0-, which includes this code

Code Also 2

These codes say K72.00 may also be needed to fully describe the condition. The note gives no sequencing direction.

  • K76.82 Hepatic encephalopathy
    acute and subacute hepatic failure without coma (K72.00)
  • M35.81 Multisystem inflammatory syndrome
    acute hepatic failure (K72.0-) names K72.0-, 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 DIG018
Hepatic failure
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Liver Failure

    severe inability of the liver to perform its normal metabolic functions, as evidenced by severe jaundice and abnormal serum levels of ammonia; bilirubin; alkaline phosphatase; aspartate aminotransferase; lactate dehydrogenases; and albumin/globulin ratio. (blakiston's gould medical dictionary, 4th ed)

Patient EducationClinical

Liver Diseases

Your liver is the largest organ inside your body. It helps your body digest food, store energy, and remove poisons.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert K72.00 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
570 Acute necrosis of liver
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 K72.00Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for acute and subacute hepatic failure without coma?

The ICD-10-CM code for acute and subacute hepatic failure without coma is K72.00 (sometimes written as K7200). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is K72.00 (Acute and subacute hepatic failure) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report acute and subacute hepatic failure without coma on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does K72.00 group to?

When acute and subacute hepatic failure without coma is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 793, 791, 442, 441, 443, with relative weights from 0.6890 to 4.2192 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is K72.00 a CC or MCC?

CMS lists K72.00 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 8 closely related codes in its exclusion list.

Can K72.00 be reported with K70.4?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at K72, which applies to K72.00, lists "alcoholic hepatic failure (K70.4)". 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).