ICD-10 Code K68.11 – Postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K68.11 – Postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess
What it is
K68.11 identifies a retroperitoneal abscess that develops after a procedure. Use it when documentation shows an abscess in the retroperitoneal space and the cause is clearly postoperative or postprocedural.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Commonly noted findings include localized pain, fever, tenderness, and imaging evidence of a retroperitoneal fluid collection or abscess after surgery or another intervention.
When to use this code
Use K68.11 when the provider documents a retroperitoneal abscess as a complication of a procedure, such as after abdominal, urologic, or vascular surgery. You should also apply it when the record clearly links the abscess to the procedure, even if the exact organism is not stated.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for a retroperitoneal abscess unrelated to a procedure. If the chart does not confirm a postprocedural cause, check documentation and consider a different retroperitoneal or infectious diagnosis.
Coding tip
Code the postprocedural complication only when the operative or progress note explicitly connects the abscess to the prior procedure.