Decompensated Cirrhosis ICD-10 Code: K74.60

Last updated: January 31, 2025

Quick Answer

Code decompensated cirrhosis using K74.60 (Unspecified cirrhosis of liver) plus additional codes for each complication: ascites (R18.8), hepatic encephalopathy (K72.90), esophageal varices (I85.x), or hepatorenal syndrome (K76.7).

Primary Code Details

Code	Description	Billable
K74.60	Unspecified cirrhosis of liver	Yes

Related Codes

Code	Description	Billable
K70.30	Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver without ascites	Yes
K70.31	Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver with ascites	Yes
R18.8	Other ascites	Yes
K72.90	Hepatic failure, unspecified without coma	Yes
I85.00	Esophageal varices without bleeding	Yes
K76.7	Hepatorenal syndrome	Yes

Documentation Requirements

Document underlying etiology of cirrhosis (alcoholic, viral, etc.)
List all decompensation features: ascites, encephalopathy, variceal bleeding, jaundice
Document MELD score if available
Note if patient is a transplant candidate

Common Coding Scenarios

Alcoholic Cirrhosis with Ascites

Documentation:

"Decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis with moderate ascites requiring paracentesis."

Code:

K70.31 - Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver with ascites

Rationale:

K70.31 captures both the alcoholic cirrhosis and ascites in one code when both are documented.

Cirrhosis with Multiple Complications

Documentation:

"Cryptogenic cirrhosis with ascites and grade 2 hepatic encephalopathy."

Code:

K74.60, R18.8, K72.90 - Cirrhosis + Ascites + Hepatic failure without coma

Rationale:

For non-alcoholic cirrhosis, code the underlying cirrhosis plus each complication separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ICD-10 code for decompensated cirrhosis?

There is no single code for decompensated cirrhosis. Code the underlying cirrhosis (K74.60 for unspecified, K70.3x for alcoholic, K74.3-K74.5 for other specific types) plus codes for each decompensation feature.

How do I code cirrhosis with ascites?

For alcoholic cirrhosis with ascites, use K70.31. For other types of cirrhosis with ascites, code the cirrhosis (K74.60) plus R18.8 (Other ascites).

What complications define decompensated cirrhosis?

Decompensated cirrhosis is marked by: ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal bleeding, jaundice, and hepatorenal syndrome. Code each documented complication.

Related Resources

Last updated: January 2025. Code data reflects ICD-10-CM 2026 version. This guide is for educational purposes only. Always verify codes against current official guidelines.