ICD-10 Code K85.81 – Other acute pancreatitis with uninfected necrosis (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K85.81 – Other acute pancreatitis with uninfected necrosis
What it is
This code identifies an acute pancreatitis episode with pancreatic tissue death, but without evidence of infection in the necrotic area. Use it when documentation clearly states uninfected necrosis.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include acute abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and imaging or clinical evidence of pancreatic necrosis. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation.
When to use this code
Use K85.81 when the provider documents acute pancreatitis and specifically notes necrosis that is not infected. It may appear in imaging reports, discharge summaries, or problem lists. If infection is mentioned, check documentation before assigning this code.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for acute pancreatitis without necrosis, or when necrosis is documented as infected. Check documentation if the record only says pancreatic necrosis without clarifying infection status.
Coding tip
Code the necrosis status exactly as documented; “uninfected” and “infected” change the code selection.