J68.1

Pulmonary edema due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors

FY2027Chapter 10: Diseases of the respiratory system/J60–J70 Lung diseases due to external agents

BillableComplete code, valid to report
Care settingsHospital MCC

J68.1 (also written J681) is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for pulmonary edema due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors. It is part of the FY2027 code set, effective October 1, 2026. It is one of the 7 codes in category J68 (Respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors). The Alphabetic Index lists it under 6 entries. Its coding notes include a Code first instruction, a Use additional code instruction, 1 Excludes1 entry and 11 Excludes2 entries.

Code first

If the underlying condition listed here is present and known, sequence it first.

Inherited from J68 Respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors

Use additional code

Add the listed code as a secondary code, if known.

Inherited from J68 Respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors
  • code to identify associated respiratory conditions, such as:
    • acute respiratory failure (J96.0-)
Also from chapter/block level (7 notes)
Inherited from Chapter 10 Diseases of the respiratory system
  • code, where applicable, to identify:
    • exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
    • exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
    • history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
    • occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
    • tobacco dependence (F17.-)
    • tobacco use (Z72.0)

Excludes1

Not coded here. The listed conditions generally should not be reported together.

This code
  • pulmonary edema (acute) (chronic) NOS (J81.-)

Excludes2

Not included here. Both codes may be reported if the patient has both conditions.

Also from chapter/block level (11 notes)
Inherited from J60–J70 Lung diseases due to external agents
  • asthma (J45.-)
  • malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung (C34.-)
Inherited from Chapter 10 Diseases of the respiratory system
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
  • complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
  • congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
  • endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • smoke inhalation (T59.81-)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

Care settings

How CMS programs treat this code. These are CMS claim edits and list entries, not coverage or eligibility rules.

Hospital MCC

Counts as a major complication or comorbidity (MCC) when reported as a secondary diagnosis on an inpatient claim. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 125 codes in its exclusion list. Some MS-DRGs also ignore a CC or MCC that defines the DRG.

Source: CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v44, effective October 1, 2026, Appendix C

Inclusion terms

Conditions classified to this code.

This code
  • Chemical pulmonary edema (acute) (chronic)

Notes

Also from chapter/block level (1 note)
Inherited from Chapter 10 Diseases of the respiratory system
  • When a respiratory condition is described as occurring in more than one site and is not specifically indexed, it should be classified to the lower anatomic site (e.g. tracheobronchitis to bronchitis in J40).

Alphabetic Index terms

Terms the official Alphabetic Index lists for this code. 6 entries