Persistent postoperative fistula

This code signifies the presence of an abnormal, chronic tract or opening that develops after a surgical procedure, allowing fluid or contents from an internal organ to drain to the skin surface or another internal organ. It indicates a failure of the surgical wound or anastomosis to heal completely, resulting in ongoing leakage.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a fistula that developed as a direct complication of a prior surgery and has persisted beyond the typical healing period. This applies to various types of postoperative fistulas, such as enterocutaneous, anastomotic, or pancreatic fistulas, where the "postoperative" etiology is explicitly stated.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "postoperative" and "persistent" or "chronic" to differentiate from acute or non-surgical fistulas.
• Sequence this code after the primary diagnosis for which the surgery was performed, if still relevant, or as the primary diagnosis if the fistula is the main reason for the encounter.
• Do not confuse with codes for acute postoperative complications or fistulas of non-surgical origin.