Blood in stool

This code signifies the presence of blood in the feces, a symptom often indicative of gastrointestinal bleeding. It can manifest as melena (dark, tarry stools) or hematochezia (bright red blood in stool), depending on the source and severity of the hemorrhage.

Assign this code when documentation explicitly states the presence of blood in the stool, regardless of whether the source of bleeding has been identified. This code is appropriate for initial presentation of GI bleeding symptoms, prior to definitive diagnosis of the underlying cause.

• Do not use this code if a more specific diagnosis for the source of GI bleeding (e.g., diverticular bleeding, peptic ulcer hemorrhage) is documented.
• This code is a symptom code; sequence it as a secondary diagnosis if the underlying cause of the bleeding is known and coded.
• Ensure documentation specifies "blood in stool" rather than just "GI bleeding" if a more specific code for the bleeding site is not available.