T81.539A — Perforation due to foreign body accidentally left in body following unspecified procedure, initial encounter

BillableUnspecifiedCC

Is T81.539A billable?

Yes, but T81.539A is an unspecified code. T81.539A is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, T81.539A is an unspecified or catch-all code. Payers apply additional scrutiny to unspecified codes and many deny them when the medical record supports a more specific option, so check the documentation before selecting T81.539A — the more specific alternatives are listed below.

More specific alternatives

T81.539A at a glance

Code	T81.539A
Description	Perforation due to foreign body accidentally left in body following unspecified procedure, initial encounter
Billable	Yes
Code set	ICD-10-CM FY2027
Valid for encounters	October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027
7th character "A"	initial encounter

What does the 7th character "A" mean in T81.539A?

In T81.539A, the 7th character A means initial encounter. The 7th character is required for T81.539A to be a valid, complete code.

Same condition, different episode of care — switch the 7th character:

Which MS-DRGs does T81.539A group to?

T81.539A sits in MDC 15 and helps define the logic of 1 MS-DRG (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.

791Prematurity with Major Problemsmedical

As a secondary diagnosis, T81.539A is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG. It also carries Hospital-Acquired Condition category 01.

How is T81.539A listed in the Alphabetic Index?

The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under T81.539, the nearest indexed parent of T81.539A. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.

Perforation, perforated › by › foreign body left accidentally in operative wound (nontraumatic) (of)
Puncture › by › foreign body left accidentally in operative wound
Foreign body › accidentally left following a procedure › causing › perforation

Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19

Report an additional code alongside T81.539A to fully describe the condition. T81.539A 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 T81.539A to fully describe the condition. T81.539A is sequenced first.

code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)
code(s) to identify the specified condition resulting from the complication
code to identify devices involved and details of circumstances (Y62-Y82)

Use additional code — inherited from T81

Report an additional code alongside T81.539A to fully describe the condition. T81.539A is sequenced first.

code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)

Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 19

The conditions below are not part of T81.539A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T81.539A and the excluded code may both be reported.

birth trauma (P10-P15)
obstetric trauma (O70-O71)

Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from T80-T88

The conditions below are not part of T81.539A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T81.539A 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)

Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from T81

The conditions below are not part of T81.539A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T81.539A 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)

How long has T81.539A existed?

T81.539A 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.