Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T81

Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified

ICD-10-CM Code:
T81
ICD-10 Code for:
Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
    (S00–T88)
    • Complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified
      (T80-T88)
      • Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified
        (T81)

T81 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Specific Coding Applicable to Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified

Non-specific codes like T81 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified:

  • T81.1 for Postprocedural shock - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.10 for Postprocedural shock unspecified - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.11 for Postprocedural cardiogenic shock - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.12 for Postprocedural septic shock - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.19 for Other postprocedural shock - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.3 for Disruption of wound, not elsewhere classified - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.30 for Disruption of wound, unspecified - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.31 for Disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.32 for Disruption of internal operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.33 for Disruption of traumatic injury wound repair - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.4 for Infection following a procedure - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.40 for Infection following a procedure, unspecified - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.41 for Infection following a procedure, superficial incisional surgical site - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.42 for Infection following a procedure, deep incisional surgical site - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.43 for Infection following a procedure, organ and space surgical site - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.44 for Sepsis following a procedure - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.49 for Infection following a procedure, other surgical site - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.5 for Complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following procedure - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.50 for Unspecified complication of foreign body accidentally left in body following procedure - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.51 for Adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following procedure - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.52 for Obstruction due to foreign body accidentally left in body following procedure - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.53 for Perforation due to foreign body accidentally left in body following procedure - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.59 for Other complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following procedure - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.6 for Acute reaction to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.60 for Unspecified acute reaction to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.61 for Aseptic peritonitis due to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.69 for Other acute reaction to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.7 for Vascular complications following a procedure, not elsewhere classified - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.71 for Complication of artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.72 for Complication of vein following a procedure, not elsewhere classified - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.8 for Other complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.81 for Complication of inhalation therapy - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.82 for Emphysema (subcutaneous) resulting from a procedure - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.83 for Persistent postprocedural fistula - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.89 for Other complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T81.9 for Unspecified complication of procedure - NON-BILLABLE CODE

Coding Guidelines

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified (T81). Use the following options for the aplicable episode of care:

  • A - initial encounter
  • D - subsequent encounter
  • S - sequela

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Use Additional Code

Use Additional Code
The “use additional code” indicates that a secondary code could be used to further specify the patient’s condition. This note is not mandatory and is only used if enough information is available to assign an additional code.
  • code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug T36 T50

Type 2 Excludes

Type 2 Excludes
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
  • 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

7th Character Note

7th Character Note
Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T81

7th Character

7th Character
Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.
  • A - initial encounter
  • D - subsequent encounter
  • S - sequela

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.