ICD-10-CM Code For Esophageal Varices: Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group I85 includes diagnoses for esophageal varices, specifying presence or absence of bleeding and related complications such as portal hypertension-associated variceal formation. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document clinical scenarios involving variceal hemorrhage, surveillance of known varices, and coding distinctions that reflect bleeding status and treatment complexity. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM I85 group supports proper claim adjudication and complete clinical documentation for appropriate reimbursement.

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ICD-10-CM I85: Esophageal Varices Overview

The diagnoses in this group represent dilated submucosal veins in the lower esophagus, typically related to portal hypertension and chronic liver disease. They target the gastroesophageal venous system and the complications of bleeding or variceal rupture. Accurate coding matters for clinical detail and reimbursement because it captures severity, presence of bleeding, and any related complications that impact claim adjudication.

When to Use

Use a code from this group when documenting a diagnosis of esophageal varices identified on endoscopy, imaging, or clinical assessment. Select the specific code that indicates whether there is active bleeding or a history of bleeding to reflect clinical severity and treatment implications.

ICD-10-CM Codes

4 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
I85.00	Esophageal varices without bleeding
I85.01	Esophageal varices with bleeding
I85.10	Secondary esophageal varices without bleeding
I85.11	Secondary esophageal varices with bleeding

DRG Codes

6 rows

DRG Code	Description
368	Major Esophageal Disorders with MCC
369	Major Esophageal Disorders with CC
370	Major Esophageal Disorders without CC/MCC
393	Other Digestive System Diagnoses with MCC
394	Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC
395	Other Digestive System Diagnoses without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A patient with known cirrhosis presents to the emergency department with large-volume hematemesis and melena after several days of increasing abdominal distension and confusion. Endoscopy reveals actively bleeding esophageal varices requiring band ligation and transfusion; the variceal bleeding is acute and potentially life-threatening, so an acute esophageal varices code with bleeding is assigned. Typical codes: I85.01
A middle-aged patient with portal hypertension secondary to chronic alcoholic liver disease is seen in hepatology clinic for routine surveillance; prior endoscopies showed nonbleeding medium-sized esophageal varices that are being monitored and treated with nonselective beta-blockers. Because the visit documents chronic esophageal varices without current hemorrhage, a code for esophageal varices without bleeding is used. Typical codes: I85.00
A hospitalized patient admitted for decompensated cirrhosis develops an acute gastrointestinal bleed and is found on endoscopy to have esophageal varices that have been previously treated with banding; the current episode involves recurrent bleeding from previously treated varices. A code indicating bleeding from esophageal varices in a recurrent or secondary context is applied. Typical codes: I85.11, I85.01

Related Codes

I80-PHLEBITIS-AND-THROMBOPHLEBITIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Phlebitis And Thrombophlebitis: Group Overview

I81-PORTAL-VEIN-THROMBOSIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Portal Vein Thrombosis: Group Overview

I82-OTHER-VENOUS-EMBOLISM-AND-THROMBOSIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Venous Embolism And Thrombosis: Group Overview

I83-VARICOSE-VEINS-OF-LOWER-EXTREMITIES

ICD-10-CM Code For Varicose Veins Of Lower Extremities: Group Overview

I86-VARICOSE-VEINS-OTHER-SITES

ICD-10-CM Code For Varicose Veins Of Other Sites: Group Overview

I87-OTHER-DISORDERS-OF-VEINS

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Disorders Of Veins: Group Overview

I88-NONSPECIFIC-LYMPHADENITIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Nonspecific Lymphadenitis: Group Overview

I89-OTHER-NONINFECTIVE-LYMPHATIC-DISORDERS

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Noninfective Disorders Of Lymphatic Vessels And Lymph Nodes: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

4 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
I85.00	Esophageal varices without bleeding
I85.01	Esophageal varices with bleeding
I85.10	Secondary esophageal varices without bleeding
I85.11	Secondary esophageal varices with bleeding

DRG Codes

6 rows

DRG Code	Description
368	Major Esophageal Disorders with MCC
369	Major Esophageal Disorders with CC
370	Major Esophageal Disorders without CC/MCC
393	Other Digestive System Diagnoses with MCC
394	Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC
395	Other Digestive System Diagnoses without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A patient with known cirrhosis presents to the emergency department with large-volume hematemesis and melena after several days of increasing abdominal distension and confusion. Endoscopy reveals actively bleeding esophageal varices requiring band ligation and transfusion; the variceal bleeding is acute and potentially life-threatening, so an acute esophageal varices code with bleeding is assigned. Typical codes: I85.01
A middle-aged patient with portal hypertension secondary to chronic alcoholic liver disease is seen in hepatology clinic for routine surveillance; prior endoscopies showed nonbleeding medium-sized esophageal varices that are being monitored and treated with nonselective beta-blockers. Because the visit documents chronic esophageal varices without current hemorrhage, a code for esophageal varices without bleeding is used. Typical codes: I85.00
A hospitalized patient admitted for decompensated cirrhosis develops an acute gastrointestinal bleed and is found on endoscopy to have esophageal varices that have been previously treated with banding; the current episode involves recurrent bleeding from previously treated varices. A code indicating bleeding from esophageal varices in a recurrent or secondary context is applied. Typical codes: I85.11, I85.01

Related Codes

I80-PHLEBITIS-AND-THROMBOPHLEBITIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Phlebitis And Thrombophlebitis: Group Overview

I81-PORTAL-VEIN-THROMBOSIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Portal Vein Thrombosis: Group Overview

I82-OTHER-VENOUS-EMBOLISM-AND-THROMBOSIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Venous Embolism And Thrombosis: Group Overview

I83-VARICOSE-VEINS-OF-LOWER-EXTREMITIES

ICD-10-CM Code For Varicose Veins Of Lower Extremities: Group Overview

I86-VARICOSE-VEINS-OTHER-SITES

ICD-10-CM Code For Varicose Veins Of Other Sites: Group Overview

I87-OTHER-DISORDERS-OF-VEINS

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Disorders Of Veins: Group Overview

I88-NONSPECIFIC-LYMPHADENITIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Nonspecific Lymphadenitis: Group Overview

I89-OTHER-NONINFECTIVE-LYMPHATIC-DISORDERS

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Noninfective Disorders Of Lymphatic Vessels And Lymph Nodes: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-CM Code For Esophageal Varices: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Esophageal Varices: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM I85: Esophageal Varices Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Esophageal Varices: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Esophageal Varices: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM I85: Esophageal Varices Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What clinical scenarios are represented in ICD-10-CM code group I85?

How does the I85 group distinguish bleeding status?

Which codes in the group denote secondary esophageal varices?

Why is accurate coding within the I85 group important for reimbursement?

Which DRGs are related to the I85 code group for esophageal varices?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What clinical scenarios are represented in ICD-10-CM code group I85?

How does the I85 group distinguish bleeding status?

Which codes in the group denote secondary esophageal varices?

Why is accurate coding within the I85 group important for reimbursement?

Which DRGs are related to the I85 code group for esophageal varices?

References