T81.523S
Obstruction due to foreign body accidentally left in body following injection or immunization, sequela
This code does not map to a risk-adjusting HCC in the loaded models.
Coding notes
Excludes 1 never coded together · Excludes 2 may co-exist
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)
code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T81
| Character | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A | initial encounter |
| D | subsequent encounter |
| S | sequela |
any encounters with medical care for postprocedural conditions in which no complications are present, such as: artificial opening status (Z93.-) closure of external stoma (Z43.-) fitting and adjustment of external prosthetic device (Z44.-) burns and corrosions from local applications and irradiation (T20-T32) complications of surgical procedures during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A) mechanical complication of respirator [ventilator] (J95.850) poisoning and toxic effects of drugs and chemicals (T36-T65 with fifth or sixth character 1-4 or 6) postprocedural fever (R50.82) specified complications classified elsewhere, such as: cerebrospinal fluid leak from spinal puncture (G97.0) colostomy malfunction (K94.0-) disorders of fluid and electrolyte imbalance (E86-E87) functional disturbances following cardiac surgery (I97.0-I97.1) intraoperative and postprocedural complications of specified body systems (D78.-, E36.-, E89.-, G97.3-, G97.4, H59.3-, H59.-, H95.2-, H95.3, I97.4-, I97.5, J95.6-, J95.7, K91.6-, L76.-, M96.-, N99.-) ostomy complications (J95.0-, K94.-, N99.5-) postgastric surgery syndromes (K91.1) postlaminectomy syndrome NEC (M96.1) postmastectomy lymphedema syndrome (I97.2) postsurgical blind-loop syndrome (K91.2) ventilator associated pneumonia (J95.851)
code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Use secondary code(s) from Chapter 20, External causes of morbidity, to indicate cause of injury. Codes within the T section that include the external cause do not require an additional external cause code The chapter uses the S-section for coding different types of injuries related to single body regions and the T-section to cover injuries to unspecified body regions as well as poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes. (T07-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (T07-T88) (T20-T32) Burns and corrosions (T20-T32) Includes: burns (thermal) from electrical heating appliances burns (thermal) from electricity burns (thermal) from flame burns (thermal) from friction burns (thermal) from hot air and hot gases burns (thermal) from hot objects burns (thermal) from lightning burns (thermal) from radiation chemical burn [corrosion] (external) (internal) scalds Excludes2: erythema [dermatitis] ab igne (L59.0) radiation-related disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L55-L59) sunburn (L55.-)
Official Guidelines for T81.523S
FY 2026 ›Subsections
- I.C.19.aApplication of 7th Characters in Chapter 19
- I.C.19.bCoding of Injuries
- I.C.19.cCoding of Traumatic Fractures
- I.C.19.dCoding of Burns and Corrosions
- I.C.19.eAdverse Effects, Poisoning, Underdosing and Toxic Effects
- I.C.19.fAdult and child abuse, neglect and other maltreatment
- I.C.19.gComplications of care
Sections that reference T81.523S
- I.C.1.d.2)Septic shockChapter 1
… code for the systemic infection should be sequenced first, followed by code R65.21, Severe sepsis with septic shock or code T81.12, Postprocedural septic shock. …
- I.C.1.d.5)(b)Sepsis due to a postprocedural infectionChapter 1
For sepsis following a postprocedural wound (surgical site) infection, a code from T81.41 to T81.43, Infection following a procedure, T81.49, Infection following a procedure, other surgical site, or a code from …
- I.C.1.d.5)(c)Postprocedural infection and postprocedural septic shockChapter 1
… postprocedural septic shock, assign the codes indicated above for sepsis due to a postprocedural infection, followed by code T81.12-, Postprocedural septic shock. …
- II.GComplications of surgery and other medical careSelection of principal diagnosis
… If the complication is classified to the T80-T88 series and the code lacks the necessary specificity in describing the complication, an additional code for the specific …
Sections whose FY 2026 text names T81.523S, its T81 category, or a range containing it — the chapter guidance above is the authoritative source.