T88.53XA — Unintended awareness under general anesthesia during procedure, initial encounter
Is T88.53XA billable?
Yes — T88.53XA is billable for FY2027. T88.53XA is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code at the highest level of specificity in its branch. T88.53XA may be submitted for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
T88.53XA at a glance
| Code | T88.53XA |
|---|---|
| Description | Unintended awareness under general anesthesia during 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 T88.53XA?
In T88.53XA, the 7th character A means initial encounter. The 7th character is required for T88.53XA to be a valid, complete code.
Same condition, different episode of care — switch the 7th character:
Which MS-DRGs does T88.53XA group to?
T88.53XA 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
How is T88.53XA listed in the Alphabetic Index?
The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under T88.53, the nearest indexed parent of T88.53XA. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.
- Anesthesia, anesthetic › complication or reaction NEC › unintended awareness under general anesthesia during procedure
- Complication › anesthesia, anesthetic › general, unintended awareness during procedure (s) (from) (of)
- Complication › anesthesia, anesthetic › unintended awareness under general anesthesia during procedure (s) (from) (of)
Excludes2 — not included here
The conditions below are not part of T88.53XA, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T88.53XA and the excluded code may both be reported.
- personal history of unintended awareness under general anesthesia (Z92.84)
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside T88.53XA to fully describe the condition. T88.53XA 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 T88.53XA to fully describe the condition. T88.53XA is sequenced first.
Use additional code — inherited from T88.5
Report an additional code alongside T88.53XA to fully describe the condition. T88.53XA is sequenced first.
- code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T41.- with fifth or sixth character 5)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 19
The conditions below are not part of T88.53XA, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T88.53XA and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from T80-T88
The conditions below are not part of T88.53XA, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T88.53XA 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 T88
The conditions below are not part of T88.53XA, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T88.53XA and the excluded code may both be reported.
- complication following infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injection (T80.-)
- complication following procedure NEC (T81.-)
- complications of anesthesia in labor and delivery (O74.-)
- complications of anesthesia in pregnancy (O29.-)
- complications of anesthesia in puerperium (O89.-)
- complications of devices, implants and grafts (T82-T85)
- complications of obstetric surgery and procedure (O75.4)
- dermatitis due to drugs and medicaments (L23.3, L24.4, L25.1, L27.0-L27.1)
- poisoning and toxic effects of drugs and chemicals (T36-T65 with fifth or sixth character 1-4)
- specified complications classified elsewhere
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from T88.53
The conditions below are not part of T88.53XA, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T88.53XA and the excluded code may both be reported.
- personal history of unintended awareness under general anesthesia (Z92.84)
How long has T88.53XA existed?
T88.53XA first appears in FY2018 (FY2017 is not available, so it may have appeared then).
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.