ICD-10-CM Code For Pulmonary Edema: Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group J81 includes diagnoses for pulmonary edema, covering acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema, noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, and unspecified pulmonary edema conditions that result from fluid accumulation in the lungs. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document clinical scenarios involving respiratory compromise due to fluid in the interstitium and alveolar spaces, capturing severity, underlying cardiac or noncardiac causes, and associated clinical complexity. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM J81 group supports proper claim adjudication, complete clinical documentation, and appropriate reimbursement.

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ICD-10-CM J81: Pulmonary Edema Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group J81 represents pulmonary edema, a condition characterized by excess fluid in the lungs that impairs gas exchange. These diagnoses target the respiratory system and reflect acute or chronic fluid accumulation in the pulmonary interstitium and alveoli. Accurate coding is important for complete clinical documentation and can affect reimbursement and claim adjudication.

When to Use

Use a code from this group when clinical documentation indicates pulmonary edema as the diagnosed condition, including specifying cardiogenic versus noncardiogenic when known. Assign the most specific code available based on acuity, etiology, and any documented comorbid cardiac or respiratory conditions.

ICD-10-CM Codes

2 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
J81.0	Acute pulmonary edema
J81.1	Chronic pulmonary edema

DRG Codes

3 rows

DRG Code	Description
189	Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure
791	Prematurity with Major Problems
793	Full Term Neonate with Major Problems

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An older adult with known congestive heart failure presents to the emergency department with sudden onset dyspnea, orthopnea, and frothy sputum after missing diuretics; chest auscultation reveals crackles and chest x‑ray shows bilateral alveolar infiltrates consistent with fluid overload. A pulmonary edema diagnosis is assigned to describe the acute accumulation of fluid in the lungs secondary to cardiac decompensation that prompted urgent treatment. Typical codes: J81.0
A patient with end‑stage renal disease on hemodialysis develops progressively worsening shortness of breath and hypoxemia over days with bibasilar crackles and dependence on supplemental oxygen; imaging indicates interstitial and alveolar pulmonary fluid without immediate hemodynamic collapse. A pulmonary edema diagnosis is used to document noncardiogenic or indeterminate pulmonary fluid accumulation associated with volume overload and dialysis issues in an outpatient or inpatient medical setting. Typical codes: J81.1
A hospitalized patient after major trauma has sudden respiratory distress, rising oxygen requirements, and diffuse bilateral pulmonary opacities on chest radiograph consistent with acute respiratory failure from fluid accumulation in the lungs as a complication of massive transfusion and fluid resuscitation. A pulmonary edema code is assigned to capture the pulmonary complication contributing to the patient's respiratory status and treatment needs. Typical codes: J81.1

Related Codes

J80-ACUTE-RESPIRATORY-DISTRESS-SYNDROME

ICD-10-CM Code For Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Group Overview

J82-PULMONARY-EOSINOPHILIA-NOT-ELSEWHERE-CLASSIFIED

ICD-10-CM Code For Pulmonary Eosinophilia Not Elsewhere Classified: Group Overview

J84-OTHER-INTERSTITIAL-PULMONARY-DISEASES

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Interstitial Pulmonary Diseases: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

2 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
J81.0	Acute pulmonary edema
J81.1	Chronic pulmonary edema

DRG Codes

3 rows

DRG Code	Description
189	Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure
791	Prematurity with Major Problems
793	Full Term Neonate with Major Problems

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An older adult with known congestive heart failure presents to the emergency department with sudden onset dyspnea, orthopnea, and frothy sputum after missing diuretics; chest auscultation reveals crackles and chest x‑ray shows bilateral alveolar infiltrates consistent with fluid overload. A pulmonary edema diagnosis is assigned to describe the acute accumulation of fluid in the lungs secondary to cardiac decompensation that prompted urgent treatment. Typical codes: J81.0
A patient with end‑stage renal disease on hemodialysis develops progressively worsening shortness of breath and hypoxemia over days with bibasilar crackles and dependence on supplemental oxygen; imaging indicates interstitial and alveolar pulmonary fluid without immediate hemodynamic collapse. A pulmonary edema diagnosis is used to document noncardiogenic or indeterminate pulmonary fluid accumulation associated with volume overload and dialysis issues in an outpatient or inpatient medical setting. Typical codes: J81.1
A hospitalized patient after major trauma has sudden respiratory distress, rising oxygen requirements, and diffuse bilateral pulmonary opacities on chest radiograph consistent with acute respiratory failure from fluid accumulation in the lungs as a complication of massive transfusion and fluid resuscitation. A pulmonary edema code is assigned to capture the pulmonary complication contributing to the patient's respiratory status and treatment needs. Typical codes: J81.1

Related Codes

J80-ACUTE-RESPIRATORY-DISTRESS-SYNDROME

ICD-10-CM Code For Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Group Overview

J82-PULMONARY-EOSINOPHILIA-NOT-ELSEWHERE-CLASSIFIED

ICD-10-CM Code For Pulmonary Eosinophilia Not Elsewhere Classified: Group Overview

J84-OTHER-INTERSTITIAL-PULMONARY-DISEASES

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Interstitial Pulmonary Diseases: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-CM Code For Pulmonary Edema: Group Overview

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ICD-10-CM J81: Pulmonary Edema Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Pulmonary Edema: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Pulmonary Edema: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM J81: Pulmonary Edema Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What diagnoses are included in ICD-10-CM code group J81?

How does coding within J81 affect reimbursement and claims?

What clinical scenarios are represented by J81 codes?

Which DRGs are related to the J81 pulmonary edema group?

What documentation elements should be reflected when assigning `J81.0` versus `J81.1`?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What diagnoses are included in ICD-10-CM code group J81?

How does coding within J81 affect reimbursement and claims?

What clinical scenarios are represented by J81 codes?

Which DRGs are related to the J81 pulmonary edema group?

What documentation elements should be reflected when assigning `J81.0` versus `J81.1`?

References