ICD-10-CM 2027
ICD-10 code for surgical procedure on complication
From the official ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry “Complication (s) (from) (of) › surgical procedure (on)”. Page updated September 29, 2026.
About coding surgical procedure on complication
The ICD-10-CM code for surgical procedure on complication is T81.9 (Unspecified complication of procedure). The official index lists 48 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on T81.9.
Within T81, choose T81.9 (Unspecified complication of procedure) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: postprocedural shock (T81.1), disruption of wound, not elsewhere classified (T81.3), infection following a procedure (T81.4), complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following procedure (T81.5), acute reaction to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure (T81.6), vascular complications following a procedure, not elsewhere classified (T81.7) and other complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified (T81.8).
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).
More specific surgical procedure on complication codes (official index)
- amputation stump (late)
- cardiac
- cholesteatoma, recurrent
- circulatory (early)
- digestive system
- dumping syndrome (postgastrectomy) K91.1 — Postgastric surgery syndromes
- ear
- elephantiasis or lymphedema I97.89 — Other postprocedural complications and disorders of the circulatory system, not elsewhere classified
- postmastectomy I97.2 — Postmastectomy lymphedema syndrome
- emphysema (surgical) T81.82 — Emphysema (subcutaneous) resulting from a procedure
- endocrine
- eye
- fistula (persistent postoperative) T81.83 — Persistent postprocedural fistula
- foreign body inadvertently left in wound (sponge) (suture) (swab)
- gastrointestinal
- genitourinary NEC N99.89 — Other postprocedural complications and disorders of genitourinary system
- hematoma
- intraoperative
- postprocedural
- hemorrhage
- intraoperative
- postprocedural
- hepatic failure K91.82 — Postprocedural hepatic failure
- hyperglycemia (postpancreatectomy) E89.1 — Postprocedural hypoinsulinemia
- hypoinsulinemia (postpancreatectomy) E89.1 — Postprocedural hypoinsulinemia
- hypoparathyroidism (postparathyroidectomy) E89.2 — Postprocedural hypoparathyroidism
- hypopituitarism (posthypophysectomy) E89.3 — Postprocedural hypopituitarism
- hypothyroidism (post-thyroidectomy) E89.0 — Postprocedural hypothyroidism
- intestinal obstruction K91.30 — Postprocedural intestinal obstruction, unspecified as to partial versus complete
- intracranial hypotension following ventricular shunting (ventriculostomy) G97.2 — Intracranial hypotension following ventricular shunting
- lymphedema I97.89 — Other postprocedural complications and disorders of the circulatory system, not elsewhere classified
- postmastectomy I97.2 — Postmastectomy lymphedema syndrome
- malabsorption (postsurgical) NEC K91.2 — Postsurgical malabsorption, not elsewhere classified
- osteoporosis
- mastoidectomy cavity NEC
- metabolic E89.89 — Other postprocedural endocrine and metabolic complications and disorders
- specified NEC E89.89 — Other postprocedural endocrine and metabolic complications and disorders
- musculoskeletal
- nervous system (central) (peripheral)
- ovarian failure E89.40 — Asymptomatic postprocedural ovarian failure
- asymptomatic E89.40 — Asymptomatic postprocedural ovarian failure
- symptomatic E89.41 — Symptomatic postprocedural ovarian failure
- peripheral vascular
- postcardiotomy syndrome I97.0 — Postcardiotomy syndrome
- postcholecystectomy syndrome K91.5 — Postcholecystectomy syndrome
- postcommissurotomy syndrome I97.0 — Postcardiotomy syndrome
- postgastrectomy dumping syndrome K91.1 — Postgastric surgery syndromes
- postlaminectomy syndrome NEC M96.1 — Postlaminectomy syndrome, not elsewhere classified
- kyphosis M96.3 — Postlaminectomy kyphosis
- postmastectomy lymphedema syndrome I97.2 — Postmastectomy lymphedema syndrome
- postmastoidectomy cholesteatoma
- postvagotomy syndrome K91.1 — Postgastric surgery syndromes
- postvalvulotomy syndrome I97.0 — Postcardiotomy syndrome
- pulmonary insufficiency (acute) J95.2 — Acute pulmonary insufficiency following nonthoracic surgery
- chronic J95.3 — Chronic pulmonary insufficiency following surgery
- following thoracic surgery J95.1 — Acute pulmonary insufficiency following thoracic surgery
- reattached body part
- respiratory
- shock (hypovolemic) T81.19 — Other postprocedural shock
- spleen (postoperative) D78.89 — Other postprocedural complications of the spleen
- intraoperative D78.81 — Other intraoperative complications of the spleen
- stitch abscess T81.41 — Infection following a procedure, superficial incisional surgical site
- subglottic stenosis (postsurgical) J95.5 — Postprocedural subglottic stenosis
- testicular hypofunction E89.5 — Postprocedural testicular hypofunction
- transplant
- urinary NEC N99.89 — Other postprocedural complications and disorders of genitourinary system
- vaginal vault prolapse (posthysterectomy) N99.3 — Prolapse of vaginal vault after hysterectomy
- vascular (peripheral)
- artery T81.719 — Complication of unspecified artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified
- mesenteric T81.710 — Complication of mesenteric artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified
- renal T81.711 — Complication of renal artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified
- specified NEC T81.718 — Complication of other artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified
- vein T81.72 — Complication of vein following a procedure, not elsewhere classified
- wound infection T81.49 — Infection following a procedure, other surgical site
Common questions about surgical procedure on complication ICD-10 codes
What is the ICD-10 code for surgical procedure on complication?
- T81.9 — Unspecified complication of procedure (a header code; report a more specific subcode). More specific codes apply when the documentation supports them: K91.1, I97.89, I97.2, T81.82 and others below.
What is the ICD-10 code for dumping syndrome surgical procedure on complication?
- K91.1 — Postgastric surgery syndromes.
What is the ICD-10 code for elephantiasis or lymphedema surgical procedure on complication?
- I97.89 — Other postprocedural complications and disorders of the circulatory system, not elsewhere classified.
What is the ICD-10 code for emphysema surgical procedure on complication?
- T81.82 — Emphysema (subcutaneous) resulting from a procedure (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
What is the ICD-10 code for fistula surgical procedure on complication?
- T81.83 — Persistent postprocedural fistula (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
What is the ICD-10 code for genitourinary nec surgical procedure on complication?
- N99.89 — Other postprocedural complications and disorders of genitourinary system.
What is the ICD-10 code for hepatic failure surgical procedure on complication?
- K91.82 — Postprocedural hepatic failure.
Is T81.9 billable?
- No. T81.9 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.