ICD-10-CM T81: Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified

ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code (2025)

Official Description for T81

Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified

Coding Notes & Guidelines for T81

Excludes1: Not Coded Here
  • anaphylactic shock NOS (T78.2)
  • anaphylactic shock due to correct substance properly administered (T88.6)
  • anaphylactic shock due to serum (T80.5-)
  • electric shock (T75.4)
  • obstetric shock (O75.1)
  • shock due to anesthesia (T88.2)
  • shock following abortion or ectopic or molar pregnancy (O00-O07, O08.3)
  • traumatic shock (T79.4)
Excludes1: Not Coded Here
  • breakdown (mechanical) of permanent sutures (T85.612)
  • displacement of permanent sutures (T85.622)
  • disruption of cesarean delivery wound (O90.0)
  • disruption of perineal obstetric wound (O90.1)
  • mechanical complication of permanent sutures NEC (T85.692)
Excludes1: Not Coded Here

dehiscence of amputation stump (T87.81)

Excludes1: Not Coded Here
  • embolism complicating abortion or ectopic or molar pregnancy (O00-O07, O08.2)
  • embolism complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O88.-)
  • traumatic embolism (T79.0)
Excludes2: Not Included Here
  • 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)
Excludes2: Not Included Here
  • bleb associated endophthalmitis (H59.4-)
  • infection due to infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injection (T80.2-)
  • infection due to prosthetic devices, implants and grafts (T82.6-T82.7, T83.5-T83.6, T84.5-T84.7, T85.7)
  • obstetric surgical wound infection (O86.0-)
  • postprocedural fever NOS (R50.82)
  • postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess (K68.11)
Excludes2: Not Included Here

obstruction or perforation due to prosthetic devices and implants intentionally left in body (T82.0-T82.5, T83.0-T83.4, T83.7, T84.0-T84.4, T85.0-T85.6)

Excludes2: Not Included Here

complications of foreign body accidentally left in body cavity or operation wound following procedure (T81.5-)

Excludes2: Not Included Here
  • embolism due to prosthetic devices, implants and grafts (T82.8-, T83.81, T84.8-, T85.81-)
  • embolism following infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injection (T80.0)
Excludes2: Not Included Here
  • hypothermia following anesthesia (T88.51)
  • malignant hyperpyrexia due to anesthesia (T88.3)
Code First

underlying infection

Use Additional Code

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

Use Additional Code

code, to identify any associated acute organ dysfunction, if applicable

Use Additional Code

code to identify infection

Use Additional Code

code (R65.2-) to identify severe sepsis, if applicable

Use Additional Code

code to identify the sepsis

Use Additional Code
  • code, if known, for site of fistula such as:
  • anal fistula (K60.3-)
  • anorectal fistula (K60.5-)
  • bladder fistula (N32.2)
  • other female intestinal-genital tract fistulae (N82.4)
Use Additional Code
  • code to specify complication, such as:
  • postprocedural delirium (F05)
Inclusion Terms

Shock during or resulting from a procedure, not elsewhere classified

Inclusion Terms
  • Collapse NOS during or resulting from a procedure, not elsewhere classified
  • Postprocedural failure of peripheral circulation
  • Postprocedural shock NOS
Inclusion Terms
  • Postprocedural endotoxic shock resulting from a procedure, not elsewhere classified
  • Postprocedural gram-negative shock resulting from a procedure, not elsewhere classified
Inclusion Terms

Postprocedural hypovolemic shock

Inclusion Terms

Disruption of any suture materials or other closure methods

Inclusion Terms

Disruption of wound NOS

Inclusion Terms
  • Dehiscence of operation wound NOS
  • Disruption of operation wound NOS
  • Disruption or dehiscence of closure of cornea
  • Disruption or dehiscence of closure of mucosa
  • Disruption or dehiscence of closure of skin and subcutaneous tissue
  • Full-thickness skin disruption or dehiscence
  • Superficial disruption or dehiscence of operation wound
Inclusion Terms
  • Disruption or dehiscence of closure of muscle or muscle flap (other than abdominal wall muscle)
  • Disruption or dehiscence of closure of ribs or rib cage
  • Disruption or dehiscence of closure of skull or craniotomy
  • Disruption or dehiscence of closure of sternum or sternotomy
  • Disruption or dehiscence of closure of tendon or ligament
  • Disruption or dehiscence of closure of superficial or muscular fascia (other than abdominal wall fascia)
Inclusion Terms

Deep disruption or dehiscence of operation wound NOS

Inclusion Terms

Disruption or dehiscence of closure of traumatic laceration (external) (internal)

Inclusion Terms

Wound abscess following a procedure

Inclusion Terms
  • Subcutaneous abscess following a procedure
  • Stitch abscess following a procedure
Inclusion Terms

Intra-muscular abscess following a procedure

Inclusion Terms
  • Intra-abdominal abscess following a procedure
  • Subphrenic abscess following a procedure
Inclusion Terms

Chemical peritonitis

Inclusion Terms
  • Air embolism following procedure NEC
  • Phlebitis or thrombophlebitis resulting from a procedure
Code Also

, if applicable, disruption of internal operation (surgical) wound (T81.32-)

Code Also

, if applicable, disruption of internal operation (surgical) wound (T81.32-)

7th Character Guidance

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T81

7th Character Definitions
  • A: initial encounter
  • D: subsequent encounter
  • S: sequela

Child Codes (More Specific Codes for T81):

T81.1 - Postprocedural shock T81.10 - Postprocedural shock unspecified T81.11 - Postprocedural cardiogenic shock T81.12 - Postprocedural septic shock T81.19 - Other postprocedural shock T81.3 - Disruption of wound, not elsewhere classified T81.30 - Disruption of wound, unspecified T81.31 - Disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified T81.32 - Disruption of internal operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified T81.320 - Disruption or dehiscence of gastrointestinal tract anastomosis, repair, or closure T81.321 - Disruption or dehiscence of closure of internal operation (surgical) wound of abdominal wall muscle or fascia T81.328 - Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound T81.329 - Deep disruption or dehiscence of operation wound, unspecified T81.33 - Disruption of traumatic injury wound repair T81.4 - Infection following a procedure T81.40 - Infection following a procedure, unspecified T81.41 - Infection following a procedure, superficial incisional surgical site T81.42 - Infection following a procedure, deep incisional surgical site T81.43 - Infection following a procedure, organ and space surgical site T81.44 - Sepsis following a procedure T81.49 - Infection following a procedure, other surgical site T81.5 - Complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following procedure T81.50 - Unspecified complication of foreign body accidentally left in body following procedure T81.500 - Unspecified complication of foreign body accidentally left in body following surgical operation T81.501 - Unspecified complication of foreign body accidentally left in body following infusion or transfusion T81.502 - Unspecified complication of foreign body accidentally left in body following kidney dialysis T81.503 - Unspecified complication of foreign body accidentally left in body following injection or immunization T81.504 - Unspecified complication of foreign body accidentally left in body following endoscopic examination T81.505 - Unspecified complication of foreign body accidentally left in body following heart catheterization T81.506 - Unspecified complication of foreign body accidentally left in body following aspiration, puncture or other catheterization T81.507 - Unspecified complication of foreign body accidentally left in body following removal of catheter or packing T81.508 - Unspecified complication of foreign body accidentally left in body following other procedure T81.509 - Unspecified complication of foreign body accidentally left in body following unspecified procedure T81.51 - Adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following procedure T81.510 - Adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following surgical operation T81.511 - Adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following infusion or transfusion T81.512 - Adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following kidney dialysis T81.513 - Adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following injection or immunization T81.514 - Adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following endoscopic examination T81.515 - Adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following heart catheterization T81.516 - Adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following aspiration, puncture or other catheterization T81.517 - Adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following removal of catheter or packing T81.518 - Adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following other procedure T81.519 - Adhesions due to foreign body accidentally left in body following unspecified procedure T81.52 - Obstruction due to foreign body accidentally left in body following procedure T81.520 - Obstruction due to foreign body accidentally left in body following surgical operation T81.521 - Obstruction due to foreign body accidentally left in body following infusion or transfusion T81.522 - Obstruction due to foreign body accidentally left in body following kidney dialysis T81.523 - Obstruction due to foreign body accidentally left in body following injection or immunization T81.524 - Obstruction due to foreign body accidentally left in body following endoscopic examination T81.525 - Obstruction due to foreign body accidentally left in body following heart catheterization T81.526 - Obstruction due to foreign body accidentally left in body following aspiration, puncture or other catheterization T81.527 - Obstruction due to foreign body accidentally left in body following removal of catheter or packing T81.528 - Obstruction due to foreign body accidentally left in body following other procedure T81.529 - Obstruction due to foreign body accidentally left in body following unspecified procedure T81.53 - Perforation due to foreign body accidentally left in body following procedure T81.530 - Perforation due to foreign body accidentally left in body following surgical operation T81.531 - Perforation due to foreign body accidentally left in body following infusion or transfusion T81.532 - Perforation due to foreign body accidentally left in body following kidney dialysis T81.533 - Perforation due to foreign body accidentally left in body following injection or immunization T81.534 - Perforation due to foreign body accidentally left in body following endoscopic examination T81.535 - Perforation due to foreign body accidentally left in body following heart catheterization T81.536 - Perforation due to foreign body accidentally left in body following aspiration, puncture or other catheterization T81.537 - Perforation due to foreign body accidentally left in body following removal of catheter or packing T81.538 - Perforation due to foreign body accidentally left in body following other procedure T81.539 - Perforation due to foreign body accidentally left in body following unspecified procedure T81.59 - Other complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following procedure T81.590 - Other complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following surgical operation T81.591 - Other complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following infusion or transfusion T81.592 - Other complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following kidney dialysis T81.593 - Other complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following injection or immunization T81.594 - Other complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following endoscopic examination T81.595 - Other complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following heart catheterization T81.596 - Other complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following aspiration, puncture or other catheterization T81.597 - Other complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following removal of catheter or packing T81.598 - Other complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following other procedure T81.599 - Other complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following unspecified procedure T81.6 - Acute reaction to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure T81.60 - Unspecified acute reaction to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure T81.61 - Aseptic peritonitis due to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure T81.69 - Other acute reaction to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure T81.7 - Vascular complications following a procedure, not elsewhere classified T81.71 - Complication of artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified T81.710 - Complication of mesenteric artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified T81.711 - Complication of renal artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified T81.718 - Complication of other artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified T81.719 - Complication of unspecified artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified T81.72 - Complication of vein following a procedure, not elsewhere classified T81.8 - Other complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified T81.81 - Complication of inhalation therapy T81.82 - Emphysema (subcutaneous) resulting from a procedure T81.83 - Persistent postprocedural fistula T81.89 - Other complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified T81.9 - Unspecified complication of procedure

About ICD-10-CM Code T81 (Complications of procedures)

ICD-10-CM code T81 is a billable or specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2025 edition of ICD-10-CM T81 became effective on October 1, 2024.

This page provides detailed information about T81 - Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified. It includes common terminology, coding guidelines such as "Includes," "Excludes1," and "Excludes2" notes, and information on required 7th characters. Utilizing this information correctly is essential for accurate medical coding and claims submission for conditions like Complications of procedures related to not elsewhere classified.