Bowel obstruction (ileus)
Also known as: Diseases of the digestive system, unspecified
General information only. Anpheros does not diagnose and does not recommend treatment. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your situation. In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number).
In short
An intestinal obstruction occurs when food or stool cannot move through the intestines, and it can be complete or partial. The most common causes of this condition are adhesions, hernias, cancers, and certain medicines. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain or cramping, vomiting, bloating, loud bowel sounds, swelling of the abdomen, inability to pass gas, and constipation. A complete intestinal obstruction is a medical emergency that often requires surgery.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
Description
An intestinal obstruction occurs when food or stool cannot move through the intestines. The obstruction can be complete or partial. There are many causes. The most common are adhesions, hernias, cancers, and certain medicines.
Symptoms include:
- Severe abdominal pain or cramping
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- Loud bowel sounds
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Inability to pass gas
- Constipation
A complete intestinal obstruction is a medical emergency. It often requires surgery.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Next to it in ICD-10
- K50Crohn's Disease
- K51Ulcerative Colitis
- K52Other non-infectious gastroenteritis and colitis
- K57Diverticular disease (diverticulosis and diverticulitis)
- K58Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- K60Anal fissure and fistula
Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.
External resources
Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for Bowel obstruction (ileus)?
K56 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).
What is the ICD-11 code for Bowel obstruction (ileus)?
DE2Z: Diseases of the digestive system, unspecified (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).
Sources and attribution
- ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
- Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).
Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →
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