ICD-10-CM I38 Coding & Reimbursement Guide

ICD-10-CM Code For Endocarditis Valve Unspecified: Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group I38 includes unspecified endocarditis affecting cardiac valves, covering infectious or inflammatory involvement of heart valves where the specific valve is not identified. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document inpatient and outpatient encounters for valvular endocardial disease, capturing disease presence, infection status, and clinical complexity relevant to cardiac infection management. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM I38 group supports proper claim adjudication / complete clinical documentation / appropriate reimbursement.

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ICD-10-CM I38: Endocarditis, Valve Unspecified Overview

This group represents infections or inflammation of the inner lining of the heart involving heart valves when the specific valve is not documented. It targets cardiac valvular endocardial disease and related infectious processes affecting the heart. Accurate coding matters for proper clinical documentation and supports appropriate claim adjudication and reimbursement.

When to Use

Use a code from this group when clinical documentation indicates endocarditis of a heart valve but does not specify the particular valve involved. Select this group when the encounter centers on valvular endocardial infection or inflammation and no more specific valve-level code is supported by the record.

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
I38	Endocarditis, valve unspecified

ICD-10-CM Code

Description

I38

Endocarditis, valve unspecified

DRG Code	Description
306	Cardiac Congenital and Valvular Disorders with MCC
307	Cardiac Congenital and Valvular Disorders without MCC
791	Prematurity with Major Problems
793	Full Term Neonate with Major Problems

DRG Code

Description

306

Cardiac Congenital and Valvular Disorders with MCC

307

Cardiac Congenital and Valvular Disorders without MCC

791

Prematurity with Major Problems

793

Full Term Neonate with Major Problems

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An adult patient presents to the emergency department with fever, new-onset heart murmur, chills, and evidence of septic emboli (splinter hemorrhages and petechiae). Blood cultures are positive for bacteria and echocardiography shows vegetations on a valve but the specific valve involved cannot be determined due to poor image quality; a diagnosis from this group is assigned to document infectious endocarditis of an unspecified valve. Typical codes: I38.
An elderly patient with a subacute course of malaise, low-grade fever, and progressive heart failure symptoms is admitted from clinic after transthoracic echocardiography suggests valvular vegetations but transesophageal imaging is deferred due to comorbidities; clinicians record endocarditis without specification of which valve is affected, so a code from this group is used for the ongoing infectious valvular process. Typical codes: I38.
A hospitalized patient being treated for prosthetic joint infection develops new fever and cardiac findings; repeat imaging is inconclusive for the exact valve involved, and the treating team documents endocarditis as an associated comorbidity without specifying valve location, leading to assignment of a code from this group to capture the complication. Typical codes: I38.

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
I38	Endocarditis, valve unspecified

DRG Code	Description
306	Cardiac Congenital and Valvular Disorders with MCC
307	Cardiac Congenital and Valvular Disorders without MCC
791	Prematurity with Major Problems
793	Full Term Neonate with Major Problems

An adult patient presents to the emergency department with fever, new-onset heart murmur, chills, and evidence of septic emboli (splinter hemorrhages and petechiae). Blood cultures are positive for bacteria and echocardiography shows vegetations on a valve but the specific valve involved cannot be determined due to poor image quality; a diagnosis from this group is assigned to document infectious endocarditis of an unspecified valve. Typical codes: I38.
An elderly patient with a subacute course of malaise, low-grade fever, and progressive heart failure symptoms is admitted from clinic after transthoracic echocardiography suggests valvular vegetations but transesophageal imaging is deferred due to comorbidities; clinicians record endocarditis without specification of which valve is affected, so a code from this group is used for the ongoing infectious valvular process. Typical codes: I38.
A hospitalized patient being treated for prosthetic joint infection develops new fever and cardiac findings; repeat imaging is inconclusive for the exact valve involved, and the treating team documents endocarditis as an associated comorbidity without specifying valve location, leading to assignment of a code from this group to capture the complication. Typical codes: I38.

ICD-10-CM Code For Endocarditis Valve Unspecified: Group Overview

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ICD-10-CM I38: Endocarditis, Valve Unspecified Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Endocarditis Valve Unspecified: Group Overview

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ICD-10-CM I38: Endocarditis, Valve Unspecified Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

References

ICD-10-CM Code For Endocarditis Valve Unspecified: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Endocarditis Valve Unspecified: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM I38: Endocarditis, Valve Unspecified Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Endocarditis Valve Unspecified: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Endocarditis Valve Unspecified: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM I38: Endocarditis, Valve Unspecified Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What does ICD-10-CM code `I38` represent?

When should `I38` be assigned in clinical documentation?

How does accurate use of `I38` affect billing and reimbursement?

Are there related DRGs connected to `I38` that coders should be aware of?

Does the `I38` group indicate whether the endocarditis is infectious or inflammatory?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What does ICD-10-CM code `I38` represent?

When should `I38` be assigned in clinical documentation?

How does accurate use of `I38` affect billing and reimbursement?

Are there related DRGs connected to `I38` that coders should be aware of?

Does the `I38` group indicate whether the endocarditis is infectious or inflammatory?

References