J81.0Acute pulmonary edema

J81.0 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for acute pulmonary edema. It belongs to category J81 (pulmonary edema), block J80-J84 (other respiratory diseases principally affecting the interstitium) and chapter 10 (diseases of the respiratory system). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Within J81 (pulmonary edema), J81.0 is specifically for acute pulmonary edema. Related codes cover chronic pulmonary edema (J81.1).

Use an additional code to identify: exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22), history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891), occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31), tobacco dependence (F17.-) and tobacco use (Z72.0).

As a secondary diagnosis it is an MCC (major complication or comorbidity), which can move an inpatient stay into the highest-paying "with MCC" MS-DRG of its family, unless the principal diagnosis excludes it.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 189 (Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure, relative weight 1.2108), DRG 791 (Prematurity with Major Problems, relative weight 4.1075) and DRG 793 (Full Term Neonate with Major Problems, relative weight 4.2195), in MDC 04 (Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System) and MDC 15 (Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 518.4 (acute edema of lung, unspecified).