T88.4
Non-billableFailed or difficult intubation
Failed or difficult intubation
This is a header/category code. For billing purposes, use a more specific child code from the list below.
Coding Notes
Excludes 1
Codes that cannot be used together with this code (mutual exclusion)
Excludes 2
Conditions not included here, but the patient may have both
- any encounters with medical care for postprocedural conditions in which no complications are present, such as:
- •artificial opening statusZ93
- •closure of external stomaZ43
- •fitting and adjustment of external prosthetic deviceZ44
- •burns and corrosions from local applications and irradiationT20-T32
- •complications of surgical procedures during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperiumO9A)O00
- •mechanical complication of respirator [ventilator]J95.850
- •poisoning and toxic effects of drugs and chemicals with fifth or sixth character 1-4 or 6)T36-T65
- •postprocedural feverR50.82
- specified complications classified elsewhere, such as:
- •cerebrospinal fluid leak from spinal punctureG97.0
- •colostomy malfunctionK94.0
- •disorders of fluid and electrolyte imbalanceE86-E87
- •functional disturbances following cardiac surgeryI97.0-I97.1
- •intraoperative and postprocedural complications of specified body systems, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,D78, E36, E89, G97.3, G97.4, H59.3, H59, H95.2, H95.3, I97.4, I97.5, J95.6, J95.7, K91.6, L76, M96, N99
- •ostomy complications, ,J95.0, K94, N99.5
- •postgastric surgery syndromesK91.1
- •postlaminectomy syndrome NECM96.1
- •postmastectomy lymphedema syndromeI97.2
- •postsurgical blind-loop syndromeK91.2
- •ventilator associated pneumoniaJ95.851
- •complication following infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injectionT80
- •complication following procedure NECT81
- •complications of anesthesia in labor and deliveryO74
- •complications of anesthesia in pregnancyO29
- •complications of anesthesia in puerperiumO89
- •complications of devices, implants and graftsT82-T85
- •complications of obstetric surgery and procedureO75.4
- •dermatitis due to drugs and medicaments, , ,L23.3, L24.4, L25.1, L27.0-L27.1
- •poisoning and toxic effects of drugs and chemicals with fifth or sixth character 1-4)T36-T65
- specified complications classified elsewhere
Use Additional Code
Additional codes that should follow this code
Child Codes (3)
Related Codes(9)
T88.0Infection following immunization
T88.1Oth complications following immunization, NEC
T88.2Shock due to anesthesia
T88.3Malignant hyperthermia due to anesthesia
T88.5Other complications of anesthesia
T88.6Anaphylactic reaction due to advrs eff drug/med prop admin
T88.7Unspecified adverse effect of drug or medicament
T88.8Oth complications of surgical and medical care, NEC
T88.9Complication of surgical and medical care, unspecified
ICD-11 Equivalents(1)
ICD-11 Equivalents
View full mappingCorresponding ICD-11 codes from the WHO crosswalk mapping
Also Known As / Clinical Terms(1)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for failed or difficult intubation?
The ICD-10-CM code for failed or difficult intubation is T88.4. The full clinical description is "Failed or difficult intubation". T88.4 is a non-billable header code. Use a more specific child code for billing purposes.
What does ICD-10 code T88.4 mean?
ICD-10-CM code T88.4 represents “Failed or difficult intubation”. It is classified under Chapter 19: Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes and is a non-billable header code. Use a more specific child code for billing purposes.
Is T88.4 a billable code?
No, T88.4 is a non-billable header code. You need to use one of its more specific child codes for billing. There are 3 child codes under T88.4.
What chapter is T88.4 in?
T88.4 is in Chapter 19: Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (codes S00-T88).
What codes cannot be used with T88.4?
T88.4 has Excludes1 notes indicating codes that cannot be used together with it, including: birth trauma (P10-P15); obstetric trauma (O70-O71).
What are the subcategories under T88.4?
T88.4 has 3 child codes, including: T88.4XXA (Failed or difficult intubation, initial encounter), T88.4XXD (Failed or difficult intubation, subsequent encounter), T88.4XXS (Failed or difficult intubation, sequela).
Are additional codes required with T88.4?
Yes, when using T88.4, also report: any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-); adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5).
What are the UMLS CUIs for T88.4?
T88.4 is linked to 1 UMLS Concept Unique Identifier: C0452114. The UMLS (Unified Medical Language System) integrates multiple biomedical vocabularies maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
How does T88.4 relate to ICF functioning codes?
ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) codes describe how conditions like failed or difficult intubation affect a person's functioning — body functions, activities, participation, and environmental factors. AutoICD provides ICF Core Sets for 12+ conditions and can map clinical text to ICF categories automatically. Browse the ICF directory to explore functioning codes.
What is the ICD-11 equivalent of T88.4?
T88.4 maps to the ICD-11 code: NE87 (Failed or difficult intubation).
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Includes SNOMED Clinical Terms® (SNOMED CT®) used by permission of SNOMED International. Includes content from the UMLS Metathesaurus, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.