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T81.81XA ICD-10-CM Code: Complication of inhalation therapy, initial encounter

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v43.0, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 919 — COMPLICATIONS OF TREATMENT WITH MCC (MDC 21)
  • MS-DRG 920 — COMPLICATIONS OF TREATMENT WITH CC (MDC 21)
  • MS-DRG 921 — COMPLICATIONS OF TREATMENT WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 21)

A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.

Official Registry Overview & Definition

Complication of inhalation therapy, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (T81.81A).

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for T81.81XA 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.

Use Additional Code

Supplementary codes the tabular list directs you to add.

  • Use additional code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)
  • Use additional code(s) to identify the specified condition resulting from the complication
  • Use additional code to identify devices involved and details of circumstances (Y62-Y82)

Frequently Compared Codes

The official Excludes notes on T81.81XA name these codes. Each comparison page covers when the two can — or must not — be reported together.

Change history

No changes recorded for this code — unchanged since the FY2016 baseline of the change ledger.

Verify Before Coding

  • No Medicare Code Editor or MS-DRG Definitions Manual restrictions apply to this code.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim.

Relationships & Classification

Other codes that name T81.81XA or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

1 Excludes2 notes: T88 (via T81.-).

1 Code First instructions: J98.51 (via T81.-).

Potential MS-DRG Relationships (FY2026)

Not on the CMS CC/MCC list — as a secondary diagnosis this code does not change MS-DRG severity.

Named in the grouper logic of 3 MS-DRGs: DRG 919 (MDC 21), DRG 920 (MDC 21), DRG 921 (MDC 21).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):INJ037 — Complication of other surgical or medical care, injury, initial encounter (default).

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Related Codes

Same injury, other encounter phase

Same injury, coded at a different phase of treatment via the 7th character.

T81.81XD — Complication of inhalation therapy, subsequent encounter Compare T81.81XA vs T81.81XD →, T81.81XS — Complication of inhalation therapy, sequela Compare T81.81XA vs T81.81XS →

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical category (Complication of other surgical or medical care, injury, initial encounter).

T81.598A — Other complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following other procedure, initial encounter, T81.599A — Other complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following unspecified procedure, initial encounter, T81.60XA — Unspecified acute reaction to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure, initial encounter, T81.61XA — Aseptic peritonitis due to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure, initial encounter, T81.69XA — Other acute reaction to foreign substance accidentally left during a procedure, initial encounter, T81.710A — Complication of mesenteric artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter, T81.711A — Complication of renal artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter, T81.718A — Complication of other artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter, T81.719A — Complication of unspecified artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter, T81.72XA — Complication of vein following a procedure, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter, T81.82XA — Emphysema (subcutaneous) resulting from a procedure, initial encounter, T81.83XA — Persistent postprocedural fistula, initial encounter, T81.89XA — Other complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter, T81.9XXA — Unspecified complication of procedure, initial encounter, T84.410A — Breakdown (mechanical) of muscle and tendon graft, initial encounter, T84.418A — Breakdown (mechanical) of other internal orthopedic devices, implants and grafts, initial encounter, T84.420A — Displacement of muscle and tendon graft, initial encounter, T84.490A — Other mechanical complication of muscle and tendon graft, initial encounter, T85.01XA — Breakdown (mechanical) of ventricular intracranial (communicating) shunt, initial encounter, T85.02XA — Displacement of ventricular intracranial (communicating) shunt, initial encounter, +230 more

Contextual Map

Every relationship of T81.81XA in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Hierarchy

  • S00-T88 — Chapter 19: Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88) (S00-T88) [Hierarchy]
  • T80-T88 — Complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified [Hierarchy]

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

  • T88 — Other complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified [Excludes2](via T81.-): “complication following procedure NEC (T81.-)” · check together

Referenced by Code First instructions

  • J98.51 — Mediastinitis [Code First](via T81.-): “underlying condition, if applicable, such as postoperative mediastinitis (T81.-)” · check together

Clinical classification (CCSR)

  • INJ037 — Complication of other surgical or medical care, injury, initial encounter [CCSR]

Potential MS-DRG

  • DRG 919 — COMPLICATIONS OF TREATMENT WITH MCC [MS-DRG]: “COMPLICATIONS OF TREATMENT WITH MCC (MDC 21)”
  • DRG 920 — COMPLICATIONS OF TREATMENT WITH CC [MS-DRG]: “COMPLICATIONS OF TREATMENT WITH CC (MDC 21)”
  • DRG 921 — COMPLICATIONS OF TREATMENT WITHOUT CC/MCC [MS-DRG]: “COMPLICATIONS OF TREATMENT WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 21)”

MDC crossing · procedures (32029)

  • MDC 21 — Injuries, Poisonings and Toxic Effects of Drugs [MDC crossing]: “Injuries, Poisonings and Toxic Effects of Drugs — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs.”
  • 0016070 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Nasopharynx with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Nasopharynx with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 21, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016071 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Mastoid Sinus with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Mastoid Sinus with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 21, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016072 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Atrium with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Atrium with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 21, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016073 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Blood Vessel with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Blood Vessel with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 21, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016074 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Pleural Cavity with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Pleural Cavity with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 21, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • and 32024 more

Nearest codes (40)

  • T81 — Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified [Sibling]
  • T81.710 — Complication of mesenteric artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified [Sibling]
  • T81.710A — Complication of mesenteric artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter [Sibling]
  • T81.710D — Complication of mesenteric artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
  • T81.710S — Complication of mesenteric artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified, sequela [Sibling]
  • T81.711 — Complication of renal artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified [Sibling]
  • T81.711A — Complication of renal artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter [Sibling]
  • T81.711D — Complication of renal artery following a procedure, not elsewhere classified, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
  • and 32 more

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance

Does T81.81XA require a 7th character?

Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T81.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to T81.81XA in its code family, with their registry titles.

  • T81.72XA — Complication of vein following a procedure, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter
  • T81.72XD — Complication of vein following a procedure, not elsewhere classified, subsequent encounter
  • T81.72XS — Complication of vein following a procedure, not elsewhere classified, sequela
  • T81.8 — Other complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified
  • T81.81 — Complication of inhalation therapy
  • T81.81XD — Complication of inhalation therapy, subsequent encounter
  • T81.81XS — Complication of inhalation therapy, sequela
  • T81.82 — Emphysema (subcutaneous) resulting from a procedure
  • T81.82XA — Emphysema (subcutaneous) resulting from a procedure, initial encounter
  • T81.82XD — Emphysema (subcutaneous) resulting from a procedure, subsequent encounter

View all codes in the T81 family