FY2027 ICD-10-CM reference
T81.49: Infection following a procedure, other surgical site
By the HCC Buddy Coding Team
The official ICD-10-CM descriptor is Infection following a procedure, other surgical site. The FY2027 annual edition starts October 1, 2026. Check the edition that applies to the encounter or inpatient discharge, including any April update.
Nonbillable heading. Verified against the official FY2027 order file.
More specific FY2027 codes
FY2027 Tabular instructions
Instructions below include applicable chapter, section and parent-code notes. Each note identifies where it appears in the official source.
Instructional note
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
Source: S00-T88 (chapter, inherited).
Instructional note
code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Source: S00-T88 (chapter, inherited).
Excludes2
birth trauma (P10-P15)
Source: S00-T88 (chapter, inherited).
Excludes2
obstetric trauma (O70-O71)
Source: S00-T88 (chapter, inherited).
Instructional note
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.
Source: S00-T88 (chapter, inherited).
Instructional note
code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Instructional note
code(s) to identify the specified condition resulting from the complication
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Instructional note
code to identify devices involved and details of circumstances (Y62-Y82)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
any encounters with medical care for postprocedural conditions in which no complications are present, such as:
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
artificial opening status (Z93.-)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
closure of external stoma (Z43.-)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
fitting and adjustment of external prosthetic device (Z44.-)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
burns and corrosions from local applications and irradiation (T20-T32)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
complications of surgical procedures during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
mechanical complication of respirator [ventilator] (J95.850)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
poisoning and toxic effects of drugs and chemicals (T36-T65 with fifth or sixth character 1-4 or 6)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
postprocedural fever (R50.82)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
specified complications classified elsewhere, such as:
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
cerebrospinal fluid leak from spinal puncture (G97.0)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
colostomy malfunction (K94.0-)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
disorders of fluid and electrolyte imbalance (E86-E87)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
functional disturbances following cardiac surgery (I97.0-I97.1)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
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.-)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
ostomy complications (J95.0-, K94.-, N99.5-)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
postgastric surgery syndromes (K91.1)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
postlaminectomy syndrome NEC (M96.1)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
postmastectomy lymphedema syndrome (I97.2)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
postsurgical blind-loop syndrome (K91.2)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
ventilator associated pneumonia (J95.851)
Source: T80-T88 (section, inherited).
Instructional note
code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)
Source: T81 (category, inherited).
Excludes2
complications following immunization (T88.0-T88.1)
Source: T81 (category, inherited).
Excludes2
complications following infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injection (T80.-)
Source: T81 (category, inherited).
Excludes2
complications of transplanted organs and tissue (T86.-)
Source: T81 (category, inherited).
Excludes2
specified complications classified elsewhere, such as:
Source: T81 (category, inherited).
Excludes2
complication of prosthetic devices, implants and grafts (T82-T85)
Source: T81 (category, inherited).
Excludes2
dermatitis due to drugs and medicaments (L23.3, L24.4, L25.1, L27.0-L27.1)
Source: T81 (category, inherited).
Excludes2
endosseous dental implant failure (M27.6-)
Source: T81 (category, inherited).
Excludes2
floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) (intraoperative) H21.81
Source: T81 (category, inherited).
Excludes2
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.-)
Source: T81 (category, inherited).
Excludes2
ostomy complications (J95.0-, K94.-, N99.5-)
Source: T81 (category, inherited).
Excludes2
plateau iris syndrome (post-iridectomy) (postprocedural) H21.82
Source: T81 (category, inherited).
Excludes2
poisoning and toxic effects of drugs and chemicals (T36-T65 with fifth or sixth character 1-4)
Source: T81 (category, inherited).
Seventh-character instruction
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T81
Source: T81 (category, inherited).
Instructional note
initial encounter
Source: T81 (category, inherited).
Instructional note
subsequent encounter
Source: T81 (category, inherited).
Instructional note
sequela
Source: T81 (category, inherited).
Instructional note
Wound abscess following a procedure
Source: T81.4 (self, inherited).
Code also
, if applicable, disruption of internal operation (surgical) wound (T81.32-)
Source: T81.4 (self, inherited).
Instructional note
code to identify infection
Source: T81.4 (self, inherited).
Instructional note
code (R65.2-) to identify severe sepsis, if applicable
Source: T81.4 (self, inherited).
Excludes2
bleb associated endophthalmitis (H59.4-)
Source: T81.4 (self, inherited).
Excludes2
infection due to infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injection (T80.2-)
Source: T81.4 (self, inherited).
Excludes2
infection due to prosthetic devices, implants and grafts (T82.6-T82.7, T83.5-T83.6, T84.5-T84.7, T85.7)
Source: T81.4 (self, inherited).
Excludes2
obstetric surgical wound infection (O86.0-)
Source: T81.4 (self, inherited).
Excludes2
postprocedural fever NOS (R50.82)
Source: T81.4 (self, inherited).
Excludes2
postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess (K68.11)
Source: T81.4 (self, inherited).
Seventh-character definitions
- A: initial encounter
- D: subsequent encounter
- S: sequela
Compare the FY2027 additions, removals and billable-status changes
What does T81.49 mean in FY2027?
The official ICD-10-CM descriptor is Infection following a procedure, other surgical site. The FY2027 annual edition starts October 1, 2026. Check the edition that applies to the encounter or inpatient discharge, including any April update.
Is T81.49 billable in FY2027?
The FY2027 order file marks T81.49 as a nonbillable heading. Select a complete billable child code.
Does T81.49 map to an HCC?
Risk-model mapping is not applicable to this nonbillable heading. Check a complete billable child code.
Source: CMS FY2027 ICD-10-CM order file. Read the FY2027 Official Guidelines.
Review the FY2026 April edition
