ICD-10 Code K26.0 – Acute duodenal ulcer with hemorrhage (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K26.0 – Acute duodenal ulcer with hemorrhage
What it is
K26.0 identifies an acute duodenal ulcer that is actively bleeding. It refers to an ulcer in the first part of the small intestine, with hemorrhage documented in the medical record.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include evidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, such as hematemesis or melena, along with symptoms of peptic ulcer disease. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation.
When to use this code
Use K26.0 when the provider documents an acute duodenal ulcer and specifies hemorrhage. It also fits endoscopic or clinical reports that clearly identify duodenal ulcer bleeding. If the record does not confirm both the ulcer site and bleeding, check documentation.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for chronic duodenal ulcer without acute bleeding, or for gastric ulcer bleeding. If the chart only says “GI bleed” without a duodenal ulcer diagnosis, do not assign K26.0.
Coding tip
Code K26.0 only when both “acute duodenal ulcer” and “hemorrhage” are explicitly supported in the record.