General Surgery Coding Alert

Question: If a patient suffers from an intra- or postoperative complication involving bleeding — such as hemorrhage or hematoma — how can you note it on the claim? Are there ICD-10-CM codes for such circumstances?

AAPC Forum Participant

Answer: Yes, there are several codes to represent this complication, which one you choose will depend on the type of complication.

Do this: Head to the M96.8- (Other intraoperative and postprocedural complications and disorders of musculoskeletal system, not elsewhere classified) section of the ICD-10-CM code book. Then, choose from one of the following code sets, depending on encounter specifics:

• M96.81- (Intraoperative hemorrhage and hematoma of a musculoskeletal structure complicating a procedure)
• M96.82- (Accidental puncture and laceration of a musculoskeletal structure during a procedure)
• M96.83- (Postprocedural hemorrhage of a musculoskeletal structure following a procedure)
• M96.84- (Postprocedural hematoma and seroma of a musculoskeletal structure following a procedure)
• M96.89 (Other intraoperative and postprocedural complications and disorders of the musculoskeletal system).