Calculus of bile duct w acute and chr cholangitis w/o obst

This code describes the presence of gallstones within the bile duct (choledocholithiasis) that are causing inflammation of the bile ducts (cholangitis). The inflammation is characterized by both acute and chronic features, indicating an ongoing and possibly recurrent process. Importantly, there is no complete blockage of the bile duct associated with this condition.

This code is appropriate when documentation specifies choledocholithiasis co-occurring with cholangitis that has both acute and chronic components. Clinical scenarios include patients presenting with symptoms like fever, jaundice, and right upper quadrant pain, where imaging (e.g., ultrasound, MRCP) confirms bile duct stones and laboratory tests (e.g., elevated liver enzymes, white blood cell count) support active inflammation, but no complete obstruction is noted.

• Ensure documentation explicitly states both "acute" and "chronic" cholangitis. If only one is specified, a different code may be more appropriate.
• Verify that the documentation clearly indicates the absence of obstruction. If obstruction is present, a different subcategory of K80.3 would be used.
• Consider sequencing: the calculus of the bile duct is typically the primary condition, with cholangitis as a manifestation.