T81.44 is the authoritative medical code for Sepsis following a procedure. This classification is used in medical billing and clinical recording to specify the clinical criteria for sepsis following a procedure (ICD-10-CM T81.44), ensuring healthcare documentation aligns with 2026 federal coding standards.
Billing Status: NO. This is a clinician non-billable / parent hierarchy grouping in the ICD-10-CM system.
Official Registry Overview & Definition
Sepsis following a procedure is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code T81.44. A more specific billable subcode must be selected for claims submission. Excludes2 (not included here): 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; 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); 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; poisoning and toxic effects of drugs and chemicals (T36-T65 with fifth or sixth character 1-4 or 6); postprocedural fever R50.82; 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.-); 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. Use additional code: code to identify the sepsis; code to identify infection; code R65.2- to identify severe sepsis, if applicable; code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5). Code also: , if applicable, disruption of internal operation surgical wound T81.32-. 7th character: The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T81.
Official Tabular Instructional Notes
Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for T81.44 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.
Excludes2 — Not Included Here
Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.
- 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
- 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)
- 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
- poisoning and toxic effects of drugs and chemicals (T36-T65 with fifth or sixth character 1-4 or 6)
- postprocedural fever R50.82
- 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.-)
- 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 Also
Additional codes that may be required to fully describe the encounter.
- , if applicable, disruption of internal operation surgical wound T81.32-
Use Additional Code
Supplementary codes the tabular list directs you to add.
- code to identify the sepsis
- code to identify infection
- code R65.2- to identify severe sepsis, if applicable
- code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance
Can T81.44 be billed directly?
No. T81.44 (Sepsis following a procedure) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.
Does T81.44 require a 7th character?
Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T81.
Can T81.44 be reported alongside related conditions?
Per Excludes2 instructions, T81.44 and the following may both be reported when both are present: 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-).
Is an additional code needed with T81.44?
Use additional code(s) to specify: code to identify the sepsis; code to identify infection; code (R65.2-) to identify severe sepsis, if applicable; code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5).
Codes in This Family (40)
Official ICD-10-CM classifications in the same code family as T81.44, with their registry titles.
- T81 — Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified
- T81.1 — Postprocedural shock
- T81.10 — Postprocedural shock unspecified
- T81.10XA — Postprocedural shock unspecified, initial encounter
- T81.10XD — Postprocedural shock unspecified, subsequent encounter
- T81.10XS — Postprocedural shock unspecified, sequela
- T81.11 — Postprocedural cardiogenic shock
- T81.11XA — Postprocedural cardiogenic shock, initial encounter
- T81.11XD — Postprocedural cardiogenic shock, subsequent encounter
- T81.11XS — Postprocedural cardiogenic shock, sequela
- T81.12 — Postprocedural septic shock
- T81.12XA — Postprocedural septic shock, initial encounter
- T81.12XD — Postprocedural septic shock, subsequent encounter
- T81.12XS — Postprocedural septic shock, sequela
- T81.19 — Other postprocedural shock
- T81.19XA — Other postprocedural shock, initial encounter
- T81.19XD — Other postprocedural shock, subsequent encounter
- T81.19XS — Other postprocedural shock, sequela
- T81.3 — Disruption of wound, not elsewhere classified
- T81.30 — Disruption of wound, unspecified
- T81.30XA — Disruption of wound, unspecified, initial encounter
- T81.30XD — Disruption of wound, unspecified, subsequent encounter
- T81.30XS — Disruption of wound, unspecified, sequela
- T81.31 — Disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified
- T81.31XA — Disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter
- T81.31XD — Disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified, subsequent encounter
- T81.31XS — Disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified, sequela
- T81.32 — Disruption of internal operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified
- T81.320 — Disruption or dehiscence of gastrointestinal tract anastomosis, repair, or closure
- T81.320A — Disruption or dehiscence of gastrointestinal tract anastomosis, repair, or closure, initial encounter
- T81.320D — Disruption or dehiscence of gastrointestinal tract anastomosis, repair, or closure, subsequent encounter
- T81.320S — Disruption or dehiscence of gastrointestinal tract anastomosis, repair, or closure, sequela
- T81.321 — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of internal operation (surgical) wound of abdominal wall muscle or fascia
- T81.321A — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of internal operation (surgical) wound of abdominal wall muscle or fascia, initial encounter
- T81.321D — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of internal operation (surgical) wound of abdominal wall muscle or fascia, subsequent encounter
- T81.321S — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of internal operation (surgical) wound of abdominal wall muscle or fascia, sequela
- T81.328 — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound
- T81.328A — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, initial encounter
- T81.328D — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, subsequent encounter
- T81.328S — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, sequela
Indexed Clinical Terms (1)
Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code.
- Sepsis (generalized) (unspecified organism), postprocedural
Related Codes & Numerical Sequence (Crawl Map)
Search engines and indexers are advised to traverse adjacent medical codes in this sub-chapter range to find correlated diagnoses or therapeutic procedures: