2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code O88.12Amniotic fluid embolism in childbirth
ICD-10-CM Codes›O00-O9A›O85-O92›O88
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- MCC — Major Complication or Comorbidity
- Not Chronic
O88.12 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for amniotic fluid embolism in childbirth. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 998. As a secondary diagnosis, it counts as a major complication or comorbidity (MCC) and places an inpatient stay in the highest severity level of its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 250 closely related codes. The code is restricted by the Medicare Code Editor to maternity cases (age 9 through 64). Coders also document this condition as amniotic fluid embolism. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Complications specified during childbirth.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Code EditsBilling
Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for O88.12.
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Amniotic fluid embolism
- Amniotic fluid embolism in childbirth
Instructional NotesGuidance
Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to O88.12: its own notes plus those printed at O88, block O85-O92, and Chapter 15. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.
Excludes1
Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
- supervision of normal pregnancy (Z34.-)
Excludes2
Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.
Use Additional Code
Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.
- code, if applicable, from category Z3A, Weeks of gestation, to identify the specific week of the pregnancy, if known.
Notes
General instructions on how these codes are used.
- CODES FROM THIS CHAPTER ARE FOR USE ONLY ON MATERNAL RECORDS, NEVER ON NEWBORN RECORDS
- Codes from this chapter are for use for conditions related to or aggravated by the pregnancy, childbirth, or by the puerperium (maternal causes or obstetric causes)
- Trimesters are counted from the first day of the last menstrual period. They are defined as follows:
- 1st trimester- less than 14 weeks 0 days
- 2nd trimester- 14 weeks 0 days to less than 28 weeks 0 days
- 3rd trimester- 28 weeks 0 days until delivery
Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.
Referenced in Other NotesGuidance
Instructional notes printed at other codes that name O88.12, its category, or a range that includes it.
Excludes1 1
These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming O88.12: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
Excludes2 4
These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming O88.12: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.
- I26 Pulmonary embolismpulmonary embolism complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O88.-) names O88.-, which includes this code
- O22 Venous complications and hemorrhoids in pregnancyobstetric pulmonary embolism (O88.-) names O88.-, which includes this code
- O87 Venous complications and hemorrhoids in the puerperiumobstetric embolism (O88.-) names O88.-, which includes this code
- O99.4 Diseases of the circulatory system complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperiumobstetric embolism (O88.-) names O88.-, which includes this code
Code First 1
These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and O88.12 is one of the conditions named.
Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance
Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Clinical InformationClinical
Embolism, Amniotic Fluid
blocking of maternal circulation by amniotic fluid that is forced into uterine veins by strong uterine contraction near the end of pregnancy. it is characterized by the sudden onset of severe respiratory distress and hypotension that can lead to maternal death.
Patient EducationClinical
Childbirth Problems
Childbirth is the process of giving birth to a baby. It includes labor and delivery. Usually everything goes well, but problems can happen. They may cause a risk to the mother, baby, or both. Some of the more common childbirth problems include:
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert O88.12 to ICD-9-CMHistory
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About O88.12Overview
What is the ICD-10 code for amniotic fluid embolism in childbirth?
The ICD-10-CM code for amniotic fluid embolism in childbirth is O88.12 (sometimes written as O8812). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Is O88.12 (Amniotic fluid embolism) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report amniotic fluid embolism in childbirth on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What MS-DRG does O88.12 group to?
When amniotic fluid embolism in childbirth is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 998 (principal Diagnosis Invalid as Discharge Diagnosis), which carries a relative weight of 0. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is O88.12 a CC or MCC?
CMS lists O88.12 as an MCC (major complication or comorbidity) for FY 2027. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it places the inpatient stay in the highest-weighted DRG of its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 250 closely related codes in its exclusion list.
Who can O88.12 be reported for?
The Medicare Code Editor checks amniotic fluid embolism in childbirth against patient demographics: this code is intended for maternity cases (age 9 through 64). Claims outside these limits are flagged as inconsistent.
