Failed or difficult intubation, sequela

This code signifies a long-term complication or residual effect stemming from a prior failed or challenging intubation procedure. It indicates that the patient is experiencing ongoing issues directly attributable to the difficulty encountered during the original intubation attempt.

Use this code when documenting conditions such as chronic airway damage, vocal cord paralysis, tracheal stenosis, or persistent dysphonia that developed as a consequence of a past difficult intubation. It is appropriate for follow-up encounters where the sequela is being managed, rather than the acute intubation event itself.

• Requires a seventh character 'S' to indicate sequela.
• Always sequence this code after the code for the specific sequela (e.g., J38.0 for vocal cord paralysis).
• Do not use for acute complications of intubation; those are coded differently.