O86.81 Puerperal septic thrombophlebitis

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026. Acts as a Major Complication or Comorbidity (MCC) as a secondary diagnosis.

Applies from O86 Other puerperal infections

Excludes2 (not included here)

• infection during labor (O75.3)
• obstetrical tetanus (A34)

Use additional code

• code (B95-B97), to identify infectious agent

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 769 in MDC 14.

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• 670.32 Puerperal septic thrombophlebitis, delivered, with mention of postpartum complication (approximate)
• 670.34 Puerperal septic thrombophlebitis, postpartum condition or complication (approximate)

Medicare Code Edits (MCE v43.1 (April 2026))

• Maternity diagnoses (age 9 through 64): Age conflict edit. These diagnoses are clinically expected only in patients age 9 through 64.

Code annotations containing back-references to O86.81

Back-references to O86.81

• Type 1 Excludes: O85 Puerperal sepsis ("puerperal septic thrombophlebitis (O86.81)")
• Type 2 Excludes: O87 Venous complications and hemorrhoids in the puerperium ("puerperal septic thrombophlebitis (O86.81)")

Back-references to O86

• Type 1 Excludes: N71 Inflammatory disease of uterus, except cervix ("infection of uterus following delivery (O85, O86.-)")
• Type 2 Excludes: O75 Other complications of labor and delivery, not elsewhere classified ("puerperal (postpartum) infection (O86.-)")
• Type 2 Excludes: O98 Maternal infectious and parasitic diseases classifiable elsewhere but complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium ("puerperal infection (O86.-)")

Diagnosis Index entries for O86.81

• Puerperal, puerperium (complicated by, complications) › septic thrombophlebitis
• Puerperal, puerperium (complicated by, complications) › thrombophlebitis (superficial) › septic
• Thrombophlebitis › puerperal, postpartum, childbirth › septic

Nearby codes

• O86.21 Infection of kidney following delivery
• O86.22 Infection of bladder following delivery
• O86.29 Other urinary tract infection following delivery
• O86.4 Pyrexia of unknown origin following delivery
• O86.8 Other specified puerperal infections
• O86.81 Puerperal septic thrombophlebitis (this code)
• O86.89 Other specified puerperal infections