Left sided colitis with unspecified complications

This code signifies inflammation of the large intestine, specifically affecting the left side of the colon, in a patient diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. The documentation indicates that the patient is experiencing complications related to this condition, but the specific nature of these complications is not detailed.

Use this code when the medical record explicitly states a diagnosis of left-sided ulcerative colitis with an unspecified complication. This applies when the physician documents "left-sided ulcerative colitis with complications" without further specifying the complication (e.g., hemorrhage, stricture, toxic megacolon). Documentation should clearly indicate the laterality of the colitis.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "left-sided" colitis; otherwise, a more general code for ulcerative colitis without laterality may be appropriate.
• Avoid using this code if a specific complication (e.g., hemorrhage, fistula) is documented; instead, code the specific complication.
• This code is for ulcerative colitis; do not use it for other forms of colitis (e.g., Crohn's colitis, infectious colitis).