Hemoperitoneum

Hemoperitoneum refers to the presence of blood within the peritoneal cavity. This condition indicates internal bleeding into the abdominal space, which can be a life-threatening emergency depending on the volume and source of the hemorrhage.

Assign this code when documentation specifies non-traumatic bleeding into the peritoneal cavity. This typically applies to spontaneous or iatrogenic (e.g., post-surgical complication) hemoperitoneum, often identified via imaging studies or surgical exploration.

• Carefully review documentation to rule out a traumatic cause; if trauma is present, use an appropriate S36.8- code.
• Distinguish from retroperitoneal bleeding (K68.3), which is outside the peritoneal cavity.
• Always code the underlying cause of the hemoperitoneum if known and documented (e.g., ruptured ectopic pregnancy, ruptured aneurysm).