2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T81.519SAdhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following unspecified procedure, sequela

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›T80-T88›T81

ICD-10-CM T81.519S
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

T81.519S is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following unspecified procedure, sequela. The 7th character S marks it as a sequela code, which reports a problem that remains after the original condition has resolved. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 922 through 923. The code is exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in operative wound AND/OR body cavity during a procedure. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Complication, sequela.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
T81.519S
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following unspecified procedure, sequela
Short Description
Adhes due to fb acc left in body fol unsp procedure, sequela
Parent Code
T81.519
Adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following unspecified procedure

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionT80-T88Complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified
CategoryT81Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified
This CodeT81.519SAdhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following unspecified procedure, sequela

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

T81.519S is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in operative wound AND/OR body cavity during a procedure

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

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 applicable episode of care:

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

Source: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2026, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR INJ076
Complication, sequela
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Adhesions

Adhesions are bands of scar-like tissue. Normally, internal tissues and organs have slippery surfaces so they can shift easily as the body moves. Adhesions cause tissues and organs to stick together. They might connect the loops of the intestines to each other, to nearby organs, or to the wall of the abdomen.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert T81.519S to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
909.3 Late eff surg/med compl
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About T81.519SOverview

Is T81.519S a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following unspecified procedure, sequela on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What does the 7th character S in T81.519S mean?

The final character S makes this a sequela code: it reports a lingering problem that remains after the adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following unspecified procedure itself has resolved, not the original event.

What MS-DRG does T81.519S group to?

When adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following unspecified procedure, sequela is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 922, 923, with relative weights from 1.0177 to 1.7494 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is T81.519S exempt from POA reporting?

Yes. CMS lists this code among those exempt from present on admission reporting, so hospitals do not assign a POA indicator for adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following unspecified procedure, sequela on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of T81.519S?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following unspecified procedure, sequela converts to ICD-9-CM 909.3 (late eff surg/med compl). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.