T81 — Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified
Not billable
Is T81 billable?
No — T81 is a non-billable header code. T81 groups more specific codes and cannot be submitted on a claim. A valid ICD-10-CM code must be reported at the highest level of specificity available in its branch. Select one of the 60 billable codes beneath T81.
Billable codes under this header
- T81.9XXAUnspecified complication of procedure, initial encounter
- T81.9XXDUnspecified complication of procedure, subsequent encounter
- T81.9XXSUnspecified complication of procedure, sequela
- T81.10XAPostprocedural shock unspecified, initial encounter
- T81.10XDPostprocedural shock unspecified, subsequent encounter
- T81.10XSPostprocedural shock unspecified, sequela
- T81.11XAPostprocedural cardiogenic shock, initial encounter
- T81.11XDPostprocedural cardiogenic shock, subsequent encounter
- T81.11XSPostprocedural cardiogenic shock, sequela
- T81.12XAPostprocedural septic shock, initial encounter
- T81.12XDPostprocedural septic shock, subsequent encounter
- T81.12XSPostprocedural septic shock, sequela
- T81.19XAOther postprocedural shock, initial encounter
- T81.19XDOther postprocedural shock, subsequent encounter
- T81.19XSOther postprocedural shock, sequela
- T81.30XADisruption of wound, unspecified, initial encounter
- T81.30XDDisruption of wound, unspecified, subsequent encounter
- T81.30XSDisruption of wound, unspecified, sequela
- T81.31XADisruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter
- T81.31XDDisruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified, subsequent encounter
- T81.31XSDisruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified, sequela
- T81.33XADisruption of traumatic injury wound repair, initial encounter
- T81.33XDDisruption of traumatic injury wound repair, subsequent encounter
- T81.33XSDisruption of traumatic injury wound repair, sequela
- T81.40XAInfection following a procedure, unspecified, initial encounter
- T81.40XDInfection following a procedure, unspecified, subsequent encounter
- T81.40XSInfection following a procedure, unspecified, sequela
- T81.41XAInfection following a procedure, superficial incisional surgical site, initial encounter
- T81.41XDInfection following a procedure, superficial incisional surgical site, subsequent encounter
- T81.41XSInfection following a procedure, superficial incisional surgical site, sequela
- T81.42XAInfection following a procedure, deep incisional surgical site, initial encounter
- T81.42XDInfection following a procedure, deep incisional surgical site, subsequent encounter
- T81.42XSInfection following a procedure, deep incisional surgical site, sequela
- T81.43XAInfection following a procedure, organ and space surgical site, initial encounter
- T81.43XDInfection following a procedure, organ and space surgical site, subsequent encounter
- T81.43XSInfection following a procedure, organ and space surgical site, sequela
- T81.44XASepsis following a procedure, initial encounter
- T81.44XDSepsis following a procedure, subsequent encounter
- T81.44XSSepsis following a procedure, sequela
- T81.49XAInfection following a procedure, other surgical site, initial encounter
- T81.49XDInfection following a procedure, other surgical site, subsequent encounter
- T81.49XSInfection following a procedure, other surgical site, sequela
- T81.60XAUnspecified acute reaction to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure, initial encounter
- T81.60XDUnspecified acute reaction to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure, subsequent encounter
- T81.60XSUnspecified acute reaction to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure, sequela
- T81.61XAAseptic peritonitis due to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure, initial encounter
- T81.61XDAseptic peritonitis due to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure, subsequent encounter
- T81.61XSAseptic peritonitis due to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure, sequela
- T81.69XAOther acute reaction to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure, initial encounter
- T81.69XDOther acute reaction to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure, subsequent encounter
- T81.69XSOther acute reaction to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure, sequela
- T81.72XAComplication of vein following a procedure, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter
- T81.72XDComplication of vein following a procedure, not elsewhere classified, subsequent encounter
- T81.72XSComplication of vein following a procedure, not elsewhere classified, sequela
- T81.81XAComplication of inhalation therapy, initial encounter
- T81.81XDComplication of inhalation therapy, subsequent encounter
- T81.81XSComplication of inhalation therapy, sequela
- T81.82XAEmphysema (subcutaneous) resulting from a procedure, initial encounter
- T81.82XDEmphysema (subcutaneous) resulting from a procedure, subsequent encounter
- T81.82XSEmphysema (subcutaneous) resulting from a procedure, sequela
T81 at a glance
| Code | T81 |
|---|---|
| Description | Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Use additional code
Report an additional code alongside T81 to fully describe the condition. T81 is sequenced first.
- code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)
Excludes2 — not included here
The conditions below are not part of T81, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T81 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- complications following immunization (T88.0-T88.1)
- complications following infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injection (T80.-)
- complications of transplanted organs and tissue (T86.-)
- specified complications classified elsewhere, such as:
- complication of prosthetic devices, implants and grafts (T82-T85)
- dermatitis due to drugs and medicaments (L23.3, L24.4, L25.1, L27.0-L27.1)
- endosseous dental implant failure (M27.6-)
- floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) (intraoperative) H21.81
- intraoperative and postprocedural complications of specific body system (D78.-, E36.-, E89.-, G97.3-, G97.4, H59.3-, H59.-, H95.2-, H95.3, I97.4-, I97.5, J95, K91.-, L76.-, M96.-, N99.-)
- ostomy complications (J95.0-, K94.-, N99.5-)
- plateau iris syndrome (post-iridectomy) (postprocedural) H21.82
- poisoning and toxic effects of drugs and chemicals (T36-T65 with fifth or sixth character 1-4)
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside T81 to fully describe the condition. T81 is sequenced first.
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Use additional code — inherited from T80-T88
Report an additional code alongside T81 to fully describe the condition. T81 is sequenced first.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 19
The conditions below are not part of T81, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T81 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from T80-T88
The conditions below are not part of T81, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T81 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- any encounters with medical care for postprocedural conditions in which no complications are present, such as:
- artificial opening status (Z93.-)
- closure of external stoma (Z43.-)
- fitting and adjustment of external prosthetic device (Z44.-)
- burns and corrosions from local applications and irradiation (T20-T32)
- complications of surgical procedures during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
- mechanical complication of respirator [ventilator] (J95.850)
- poisoning and toxic effects of drugs and chemicals (T36-T65 with fifth or sixth character 1-4 or 6)
- postprocedural fever (R50.82)
- specified complications classified elsewhere, such as:
- cerebrospinal fluid leak from spinal puncture (G97.0)
- colostomy malfunction (K94.0-)
- disorders of fluid and electrolyte imbalance (E86-E87)
- functional disturbances following cardiac surgery (I97.0-I97.1)
- intraoperative and postprocedural complications of specified body systems (D78.-, E36.-, E89.-, G97.3-, G97.4, H59.3-, H59.-, H95.2-, H95.3, I97.4-, I97.5, J95.6-, J95.7, K91.6-, L76.-, M96.-, N99.-)
- ostomy complications (J95.0-, K94.-, N99.5-)
- postgastric surgery syndromes (K91.1)
- postlaminectomy syndrome NEC (M96.1)
- postmastectomy lymphedema syndrome (I97.2)
- postsurgical blind-loop syndrome (K91.2)
- ventilator associated pneumonia (J95.851)
What codes fall under T81? (8)
- T81.1Postprocedural shocknot billable
- T81.3Disruption of wound, not elsewhere classifiednot billable
- T81.4Infection following a procedurenot billable
- T81.5Complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following procedurenot billable
- T81.6Acute reaction to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedurenot billable
- T81.7Vascular complications following a procedure, not elsewhere classifiednot billable
- T81.8Other complications of procedures, not elsewhere classifiednot billable
- T81.9Unspecified complication of procedurenot billable
How long has T81 existed?
T81 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.
Which codes are confused with T81?
ICD-10-CM declares these codes mutually exclusive with T81 — exactly one of each pair can be correct for a given encounter.