T81.520 Obstruction due to foreign body accidentally left in body following surgical operation

ICD-10-CM T81.520: Obstruction due to foreign body accidentally left in body following surgical operation

ICD-10-CM code T81.520 identifies an obstruction caused by a foreign body accidentally left in the body following a surgical operation. The active terminology record classifies this concept as an Injury or Poisoning. The base code is listed as non-billable, and a related specific code includes an initial encounter character. 1 3 4

Plain-language overview

Code T81.520 identifies a patient experiencing a blockage because a foreign object was unintentionally left inside their body after a surgical operation. 1

What this code represents

The official display label for T81.520 is obstruction due to foreign body accidentally left in body following surgical operation, and its semantic type is Injury or Poisoning. 1 3

In the ICD-10-CM hierarchy, T81.520 is a narrower concept under the parent code T81.52, which covers obstruction due to foreign body accidentally left in body following procedure. 1

Coding details

The base code T81.520 is listed as non-billable, and a related specific code T81.520A exists for obstruction due to a foreign body accidentally left in the body following a surgical operation. 4

Clinical context

Foreign bodies can become lodged at anatomical narrowings and result in obstruction, with clinical management depending on the patient's symptoms, the object's location, and its size and composition. 2

Documentation considerations

The official terminology record establishes that the diagnostic concept represents an obstruction due to a foreign body accidentally left in the body following a surgical operation. 1

What the sources add

While the terminology record defines the code's hierarchical placement and semantic type, the billing source adds operational context by specifying the non-billable status and identifying a related initial encounter code. 1 4

The clinical literature source explains that foreign body obstructions can require prompt intervention like endoscopic retrieval or surgical removal, whereas the terminology sources define the diagnostic code. 1 2 3

Sources

1. ICD-10-CM T81.520 terminology record — National Cancer Institute Enterprise Vocabulary Services; accessed 2026-07-27.
2. Bookshelf — ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
3. EVS Explore — evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
4. Codigo. The #1 Billing Agency for Medical Practices — codigo.care; accessed 2026-07-27.