K81.0 Acute cholecystitis

The ICD-10-CM code for Acute cholecystitis is K81.0 (FY2026). It is a billable, claim-ready diagnosis code.

Classification

Chapter

11: Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K95)

Section

K80-K87: Disorders of gallbladder, biliary tract and pancreas (K80-K87)

Category K81

5 codes (4 billable)

FY2026 Status

Stable since FY2024

Also Known As

ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index entries that lead to K81.0:

• Suppuration, suppurative › gallbladder (acute)
• Empyema (acute) (chest) (double) (pleura) (supradiaphragmatic) (thorax) › gallbladder
• Abscess (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic) › gallbladder
• Gallbladder › acute
• Cholecystitis › acute (emphysematous) (gangrenous) (suppurative)
• Septic › gallbladder (acute)

Inclusion Terms

• Abscess of gallbladder
• Angiocholecystitis
• Emphysematous (acute) cholecystitis
• Empyema of gallbladder
• Gangrene of gallbladder
• Gangrenous cholecystitis
• Suppurative cholecystitis

U.S. Hospital Utilization

• An estimated 64,870 U.S. inpatient stays in 2023 included K81.0 among the documented diagnoses.
• 30,415 stays listed it as the principal diagnosis.

Source: National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2016–2023. National survey-weighted estimates.

Official Coding Guidelines

Chapter 11 reserved for future expansion

11. Chapter 11: Diseases of the Digestive System (K00-K95) Reserved for future guideline expansion

Source: CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026

References

• CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Code Set and Guidelines, FY2026
• CDC/NCHS — ICD-10-CM Files and Browser Tool
• AHRQ — HCUP National Inpatient Sample, Frequencies by Diagnosis Code (2016–2023)