T81.500
Unspecified complication of foreign body accidentally left in body following surgical operation
Not billable — category only FY2026 2025-10-01 → 2026-09-30
This is the unspecified option. 9 more
specific codes sit alongside it. Worth
checking whether the documentation supports one of them.
Exclusions 14 never code together
T81code
Excludes2
- complications following immunization (T88.0-T88.1)T88.0-T88.1
- complications following infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injection (T80.-)T80.-
- complications of transplanted organs and tissue (T86.-)T86.-
- specified complications classified elsewhere, such as:
- complication of prosthetic devices, implants and grafts (T82-T85)T82-T85
- dermatitis due to drugs and medicaments (L23.3, L24.4, L25.1, L27.0-L27.1)L23.3L24.4L25.1L27.0-L27.1
- endosseous dental implant failure (M27.6-)M27.6-
- floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) (intraoperative) H21.81H21.81
- 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.-)D78.-E36.-E89.-G97.3-G97.4H59.3-H59.-H95.2-H95.3I97.4-I97.5J95K91.-L76.-M96.-N99.-
- ostomy complications (J95.0-, K94.-, N99.5-)J95.0-K94.-N99.5-
- plateau iris syndrome (post-iridectomy) (postprocedural) H21.82H21.82
- poisoning and toxic effects of drugs and chemicals (T36-T65 with fifth or sixth character 1-4)T36-T65
Excludes2 — not included here, but the patient may have both. Code both when documented.
7th character 3
A initial encounter
D subsequent encounter
S sequela
Instructional notes 4
T81code
Use additional code
- code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)T36-T50
S00-T88chapter
Notes
- 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.
Use additional code
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)Z18.-
Index entries leading here 1
Alongside this code 9 same parent — T81.50
T81.501 Unsp comp of fb acc left in body following infusn/transfusn category T81.502 Unsp comp of fb acc left in body following kidney dialysis category T81.503 Unsp comp of fb acc left in body fol injection or immuniz category T81.504 Unsp comp of fb acc left in body following endoscopic exam category T81.505 Unsp comp of fb acc left in body following heart cath category T81.506 Unsp comp of fb acc left in body following punctr/cath category T81.507 Unsp comp of fb acc left in body following remov cath/pack category T81.508 Unsp comp of fb acc left in body following oth procedure category T81.509 Unsp comp of fb acc left in body following unsp procedure category
Subordinate codes 3
Additional references
AHA Coding Clinic® Licence required
Official coding advice for this code. Published by the American Hospital Association. Not included in this installation.