O88.23 Thromboembolism in the puerperium

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

Applicable to

• Puerperal (pulmonary) embolism NOS

Applies from O88 Obstetric embolism

Excludes1 (never code together)

• embolism complicating abortion NOS (O03.2)
• embolism complicating ectopic or molar pregnancy (O08.2)
• embolism complicating failed attempted abortion (O07.2)
• embolism complicating induced abortion (O04.7)
• embolism complicating spontaneous abortion (O03.2, O03.7)

MS-DRG index

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

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• 673.22 Obstetrical blood-clot embolism, delivered, with mention of postpartum complication (approximate)
• 673.24 Obstetrical blood-clot embolism, 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 O88.23

Back-references to O88

• Type 2 Excludes: I26 Pulmonary embolism ("pulmonary embolism complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O88.-)")
• Code First: I74 Arterial embolism and thrombosis ("embolism and thrombosis complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O88.-)")
• Type 2 Excludes: O22 Venous complications and hemorrhoids in pregnancy ("obstetric pulmonary embolism (O88.-)")
• Type 2 Excludes: O87 Venous complications and hemorrhoids in the puerperium ("obstetric embolism (O88.-)")
• Type 2 Excludes: O99.4 Diseases of the circulatory system complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium ("obstetric embolism (O88.-)")
• Type 1 Excludes: T81.7 Vascular complications following a procedure, not elsewhere classified ("embolism complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O88.-)")

Diagnosis Index entries for O88.23

• Embolism (multiple) (paradoxical) › obstetric (in) (pulmonary) › puerperal
• Embolism (multiple) (paradoxical) › obstetric (in) (pulmonary) › puerperal › blood clot
• Occlusion, occluded › artery › precerebral › puerperal

Nearby codes

• O88.211 Thromboembolism in pregnancy, first trimester
• O88.212 Thromboembolism in pregnancy, second trimester
• O88.213 Thromboembolism in pregnancy, third trimester
• O88.219 Thromboembolism in pregnancy, unspecified trimester
• O88.22 Thromboembolism in childbirth
• O88.23 Thromboembolism in the puerperium (this code)
• O88.3 Obstetric pyemic and septic embolism
• O88.31 Pyemic and septic embolism in pregnancy
• O88.311 Pyemic and septic embolism in pregnancy, first trimester
• O88.312 Pyemic and septic embolism in pregnancy, second trimester
• O88.313 Pyemic and septic embolism in pregnancy, third trimester