What does ICD-10 code O68 mean?

O68 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Labor and delivery complicated by abnormality of fetal acid-base balance. Labor and delivery complicated by abnormality of fetal acid-base balance

Is O68 a billable ICD-10 code?

Yes, O68 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can be used on medical claims.

What chapter is O68 in?

O68 is classified under Chapter 15: Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A), Section O60-O77: Complications of labor and delivery (O60-O77).

What are the includes and excludes for O68?

Excludes1 (not coded here): fetal stress NOS (O77.9); labor and delivery complicated by electrocardiographic evidence of fetal stress (O77.8); labor and delivery complicated by ultrasonic evidence of fetal stress (O77.8). Excludes2 (not included here): abnormality in fetal heart rate or rhythm (O76); labor and delivery complicated by meconium in amniotic fluid (O77.0).

O68 Labor and delivery complicated by abnormality of fetal acid-base balance

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The ICD-10-CM code for Labor and delivery complicated by abnormality of fetal acid-base balance is O68 (FY2026). It is a billable, claim-ready diagnosis code.

Classification

Chapter: 15: Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
Section: O60-O77: Complications of labor and delivery (O60-O77)
Category O68: 1 code (1 billable)
FY2026 Status: Stable since FY2024

Also Known As

ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index entries that lead to O68:

Pregnancy (single) (uterine) › complicated by (care of) (management affected by) › fetal (maternal care for) › acidosis
Pregnancy (single) (uterine) › complicated by (care of) (management affected by) › fetal (maternal care for) › acidemia
Pregnancy (single) (uterine) › complicated by (care of) (management affected by) › fetal (maternal care for) › alkalosis
Delivery (childbirth) (labor) › complicated › by › fetal › acidosis
Delivery (childbirth) (labor) › complicated › by › fetal › abnormal acid-base balance
Delivery (childbirth) (labor) › complicated › by › fetal › acidemia
Pregnancy (single) (uterine) › complicated by (care of) (management affected by) › fetal (maternal care for) › abnormality or damage › acid-base balance
Delivery (childbirth) (labor) › complicated › by › fetal › alkalosis

Excludes1

Not coded here. These conditions should NOT be coded together with O68.

fetal stress NOS (O77.9)
labor and delivery complicated by electrocardiographic evidence of fetal stress (O77.8)
labor and delivery complicated by ultrasonic evidence of fetal stress (O77.8)

Excludes2

Not included here. These conditions are coded elsewhere but may be coded together if applicable.

abnormality in fetal heart rate or rhythm (O76)
labor and delivery complicated by meconium in amniotic fluid (O77.0)

Inclusion Terms

Fetal acidemia complicating labor and delivery
Fetal acidosis complicating labor and delivery
Fetal alkalosis complicating labor and delivery
Fetal metabolic acidemia complicating labor and delivery

U.S. Hospital Utilization

An estimated 170 U.S. inpatient stays in 2023 included O68 among the documented diagnoses.

Source: National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2016–2023. National survey-weighted estimates.