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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

T81.40Infection following a procedure, unspecified

Not billable — use a more specific codeRequires 7th character

T81.40 is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself. Choose one of the 3 more specific codes beneath it and add the required 7th character.

Code last changed in FY2019 (effective October 1, 2018). Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data

About T81.40

T81.40 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for infection following a procedure, unspecified. It belongs to category T81 (complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified), block T80-T88 (complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified) and chapter 19 (injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes). It is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself; one of its 3 subcodes must be used instead.

Within T81.4, choose T81.40 (unspecified) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: superficial incisional surgical site (T81.41), deep incisional surgical site (T81.42), organ and space surgical site (T81.43), sepsis following a procedure (T81.44) and other surgical site (T81.49).

Codes in this range require a 7th character: A for initial encounter, D for subsequent encounter and S for sequela. Use placeholder "X" characters to fill any empty positions before the 7th character.

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

It was added in FY2019, effective October 1, 2018.

7th character

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

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to T81.40.

› From T81.4 Infection following a procedure
Excludes2
  • 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)
Use additional code
  • code to identify infection
  • code (R65.2-) to identify severe sepsis, if applicable
Code also
  • , if applicable, disruption of internal operation (surgical) wound (T81.32-)
› From T81 Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified
Excludes2
  • 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)
Use additional code
  • code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)

Broader instructions also apply from T80-T88 Complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified and Chapter 19: Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.

Alphabetic index entries

4 entries

Terms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to T81.40.

Code history

  1. 2016
  2. 2017
  3. 2018
  4. 2019
  5. 2020
  6. 2021
  7. 2022
  8. 2023
  9. 2024
  10. 2025
  11. 2026
  12. 2027
  • FY2019 (effective 10/1/2018): Added
  • No changes since FY2019.

Common questions about T81.40

Is T81.40 billable?

No. T81.40 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.