ICD code O87.0 – Postpartum superficial thrombophlebitis

Key takeaways

O87.0 is a billable ICD-10-CM code for superficial (not deep) thrombophlebitis in the puerperium, including puerperal phlebitis NOS and puerperal thrombosis NOS.

The postpartum period runs about 42 days after birth. Chapter 15 codes may still be used beyond six weeks when the provider documents the condition as pregnancy-related.

O22 codes cover venous complications in pregnancy, while O87 codes cover venous complications in labor, delivery and the puerperium.

When applicable, an additional I80.0- code identifies the superficial vein thrombosis of the lower extremity.

Pabau’s claims management, part of our practice software, sends claims you have coded to payers via Claim.MD and tracks their status, including ERA matching.

ICD-10 code O87.0: quick reference and code status

ICD-10 code O87.0 is the valid, billable diagnosis code for superficial thrombophlebitis in the puerperium. It describes inflammation and clotting in a surface vein that arises in labor, delivery or the weeks after. In addition, it is current for the 2026 ICD-10-CM code year, verified against the CDC/NCHS ICD-10-CM official code tool. Besides, it needs no 7th character, although the tabular asks for an additional code for the superficial vein when it applies. Finally, the table below lists the key data at a glance.

What ICD-10 code O87.0 covers: inclusions, exclusions, and clinical scope

ICD-10 code O87.0 covers inflammation and superficial clot formation in veins after birth, including conditions documented as puerperal phlebitis NOS or puerperal thrombosis NOS. The WHO ICD-10 classification groups these under the venous complications of the puerperium. Overall, they share one cause: the hypercoagulable state after birth, combined with venous stasis from less movement.

What the code includes

• Superficial thrombophlebitis arising after vaginal or cesarean birth
• Puerperal phlebitis NOS (not otherwise specified) when the record does not distinguish superficial from deep
• Puerperal phlebitis NOS and puerperal thrombosis NOS are the inclusion terms
• Superficial veins, usually of the lower extremities, documented as postpartum

What the code excludes

The O87 category carries three Excludes2 notes. An Excludes2 condition is not part of O87.0, but both codes may be reported together when the patient has both conditions.

• Obstetric embolism – coded to the O88 category (Excludes2)
• Puerperal septic thrombophlebitis – coded to O86.81 (Excludes2)
• Venous complications in pregnancy – coded to the O22 category (Excludes2; see the O22 vs O87 section below)

Three sibling codes in the same category also sit outside O87.0 and are coded instead of it:

• Deep phlebothrombosis postpartum – coded to O87.1, and the superficial/deep distinction decides the code
• Varicose veins of lower extremity in the puerperium – coded to O87.4
• Cerebral venous thrombosis in the puerperium – coded to O87.3

Section I.C.15 of the ICD-10-CM guidelines describes the postpartum period as the six weeks, or roughly 42 days, following delivery. However, Chapter 15 codes may still be used beyond six weeks when the provider documents the condition as pregnancy-related.

O87.0 vs O87.1 and other O87 sibling codes

Choosing O87.0 when O87.1 applies, or the reverse, gets the severity wrong. Superficial thrombophlebitis (O87.0) tends to carry lower thromboembolic risk and is treated with simple measures. In contrast, deep phlebothrombosis (O87.1) carries pulmonary embolism risk and usually needs anticoagulation, so auditors check the code against the treatment ordered.

A duplex ultrasound report naming the affected vein is the clearest support for choosing between O87.0 and O87.1 (great saphenous vein = superficial; femoral vein = deep). In addition, the scan is usually reported with 93971 when one leg is examined. Likewise, a note documenting puerperal phlebitis or thrombosis NOS codes to O87.0. However, query the provider when the findings suggest deep vein disease. See the AAPC ICD-10-CM code lookup for the full tabular context of the O87 category.

O22 vs O87.0: pregnancy versus puerperium venous complications

O22 codes cover venous complications in pregnancy, while O87 codes cover venous complications in labor, delivery and the puerperium. The O87 category’s own inclusion note names all three, so a superficial thrombophlebitis that starts during labor belongs to O87.0 rather than O22.2.

For example, a patient develops leg pain and a palpable cord on day two postpartum. Then the duplex confirms superficial thrombophlebitis. Meanwhile, the pregnancy record may show an earlier O22.2 (superficial thrombophlebitis in pregnancy), but the postpartum visit is coded O87.0.

First, code by the provider’s note of when the condition arose relative to delivery. Once timing places the case in O87, the documented depth of the vein picks the code, as the diagram below shows.

Official ICD-10-CM coding guidelines for O87.0

ICD-10-CM Chapter 15 guidelines govern all obstetric codes, including O87.0. The rules that affect how this code is sequenced and reported are listed below. Confirm current guidance in the CMS annual ICD-10 coding guidelines release, since this summary does not replace the current-year tabular.

• Sequencing as principal diagnosis: When a postpartum patient is admitted specifically for treatment of superficial thrombophlebitis, O87.0 is sequenced as the principal diagnosis.
• Sequencing as secondary diagnosis: If superficial thrombophlebitis develops during a delivery admission, the condition that prompted the admission is principal and O87.0 is secondary. The complication must be clearly documented by the provider.
• Use additional code: When it applies, use an additional code for the specific superficial vein thrombosis, such as I80.0- (superficial vessels of lower extremities).
• Long-term anticoagulants: Add Z79.01 only when the patient is on long-term anticoagulation.
• No 7th-character extensions: O87.0 carries no encounter-type 7th character. The code is used as-is.
• Provider notes drive the code: Coders cannot assign a depth the provider has not documented. Puerperal phlebitis or thrombosis NOS codes to O87.0, and suspected deep vein disease calls for a provider query.
• Laterality: O87.0 has no laterality component of its own. The extra I80.0- code captures the affected side, so the note should name the left or right leg.

A clean claim submission for O87.0 needs the visit note, scan report and treatment orders to agree on the diagnosis and postpartum timing. As a result, when those three documents disagree, the claim is more likely to draw a medical necessity review.

Documentation requirements to support an O87.0 diagnosis

The medical record must contain specific elements before O87.0 can be coded with confidence. In fact, vague notes are what payer audits most often reverse on this code. Sound medical billing for postpartum visits depends on coders and clinicians agreeing on these elements before the claim leaves the practice.

Required documentation elements

• Clear diagnosis by a qualified provider: The treating physician must document “superficial thrombophlebitis” or an include-note term (puerperal phlebitis NOS, puerperal thrombosis NOS). Nursing notes or lab values alone are not enough.
• Depth qualifier: The word “superficial”, or a named superficial vein such as the great saphenous, should appear in the provider note or imaging report. Puerperal phlebitis or thrombosis NOS still codes to O87.0. Query the provider when deep vein disease is suspected, and use O87.9 only when the venous complication itself is unspecified.
• Timing relative to delivery: The note must confirm the condition arose in labor, delivery or the puerperium. For outpatient visits, the date of service relative to the delivery date establishes this. For inpatient admissions, the admission date and the delivery date on the obstetric record serve as support.
• Location: Documenting the affected limb (e.g., left leg, right calf) supports the extra I80.0- code, which does split by side.
• Scan report: A duplex ultrasound confirming superficial vein involvement is the gold-standard support document. Not every case needs a scan, but an ordered ultrasound report should match the coded diagnosis.
• Treatment orders: NSAIDs, compression, or anticoagulation orders that match a superficial thrombophlebitis diagnosis reinforce medical necessity. Orders that do not fit superficial disease, such as full anticoagulation without DVT documentation, draw close review.

CPT codes commonly paired with ICD-10 code O87.0

Billing for postpartum visits involving O87.0 requires the right CPT code alongside the diagnosis, and pairing mismatches trigger medical necessity edits from commercial payers. Once the practice has coded the visit, Pabau’s claims tracking and submission sends the claim to payers via Claim.MD. The superbill documentation for each visit should reflect the CPT selected and the supporting O87.0 diagnosis.

Global OB package caution: When the delivering provider bills the global OB package (CPT 59400 or 59510), postpartum visits within the 6-week window are included. A separate postpartum E/M (99213-99215) inside that window needs modifier 24 when the visit is unrelated to routine postpartum care. Without it, expect a payer edit or denial. In contrast, modifier 25 applies only when a significant, separate E/M falls on the same day as a procedure. Therefore, confirm the global period rules with each payer.

Common claim denial reasons for O87.0 and how to avoid them

Claims coded O87.0 are denied for a short list of reasons, and each denial comes back with a claim adjustment reason code. See CARC denial codes for what each one means.

Denial management workflows and pre-submission audits catch many of these before appeals. Good medical billing compliance for postpartum claims starts with the patterns below.

• Wrong category used postpartum (O22 instead of O87.0): Coders working from prenatal records can carry an O22 code forward without checking when the condition arose. Fix: flag any O22 code on a postpartum visit date for review before filing.
• Depth unspecified in the record: Puerperal phlebitis or thrombosis NOS codes to O87.0. A note without a depth qualifier is not by itself a reason to reject. Fix: query the provider when deep vein disease is suspected, and reserve O87.9 for an unspecified venous complication.
• Missing laterality in the record: O87.0 does not split by side, but the extra I80.0- code does. A record silent on which leg can trigger record requests. Fix: make the affected leg a standard part of the provider note.
• CPT-ICD pairing mismatch: A bilateral duplex scan (93970) billed with a unilateral O87.0 diagnosis and no documented bilateral concern is a common edit trigger. Fix: confirm scan scope matches the documented clinical presentation.
• E/M billed inside global OB period without modifier: Billing 99213-99215 within the global window without modifier 24 results in bundling edits. Fix: verify the delivery date and global period length with each payer before submitting separate postpartum E/M codes.
• Weak medical necessity for anticoagulation: Full anticoagulation for O87.0 (a superficial diagnosis) draws a medical necessity review. The note should record extension toward deep veins or a D-dimer/duplex escalation. Fix: state the reason for treatment whenever anticoagulation is ordered.

How claims management software keeps O87.0 claims moving

Once a coder has settled on O87.0, the claim still has to reach the payer and come back paid. For example, many practices key it into a separate clearinghouse portal, check coverage by phone, and chase status one claim at a time.

Pabau, the practice management platform we build, keeps that work next to the postpartum visit. Its claims management sends claims you have coded to payers via Claim.MD and tracks their status, including ERA matching. In addition, a real-time eligibility check before the follow-up visit confirms the patient’s coverage first.

The coding decisions in this guide stay with your coders and providers. Instead, what changes is the follow-through: denials show up against the claim that caused them, so the fix goes back to the right note.

Submit and track postpartum claims in one place

Pabau’s claims management sends claims you have coded to payers via Claim.MD and tracks their status, including ERA matching. Real-time eligibility checks confirm coverage before the visit.

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Conclusion

O87.0 is a simple code to assign once two facts are on the record. The condition arose in labor, delivery or the puerperium, and the vein involved is superficial. Build both into your postpartum note templates, and add the I80.0- code for the leg whenever it applies.

Keep in mind that an NOS phlebitis note is codable, but a suspected deep clot is not a coder’s call. In the end, a short provider query costs less than defending a superficial code against a deep-vein treatment plan.

If your practice wants coded postpartum claims submitted and tracked through Claim.MD without leaving the patient record, book a demo.

Continue your research

Need a framework for managing obstetric claim denials systematically? Denial management in healthcare walks through the denial lifecycle, CARC code interpretation, and appeal workflows for outpatient and inpatient claims.

Want to understand how clearinghouses validate obstetric claims before they reach payers? How a medical claims clearinghouse works explains 837P transmission, eligibility checks, and payer routing for US practices.

Looking for guidance on building a clean-claim checklist for postpartum encounters? What is revenue cycle management covers the end-to-end billing workflow from diagnosis coding through payment posting.

Need the code for an unspecified postpartum venous complication? ICD-10 code O87.9 explains when the record supports only the unspecified code.

Coding postpartum varicose veins instead? ICD-10 code O87.4 covers varicose veins of the lower extremity in the puerperium.

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