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2025 ICD-10-CM code I46

Cardiac arrest; cessation of heart function.

Accurate coding requires specifying the cause of the cardiac arrest whenever possible (I46.0-I46.2), or using the unspecified code (I46.9) if the cause is unknown.

Modifiers are not applicable to ICD-10 codes.

The medical necessity of procedures and services related to cardiac arrest is established by the acute life-threatening nature of the condition.Documentation supporting the need for resuscitation and subsequent treatment is crucial.

The clinical responsibility for a patient experiencing cardiac arrest involves immediate resuscitation efforts (CPR, defibrillation), stabilization of vital signs, diagnosis of the underlying cause, and treatment of any complications.

IMPORTANT:I46.0 (Cardiac arrest with successful resuscitation), I46.1 (Cardiac arrest due to underlying cardiac condition), I46.2 (Cardiac arrest due to other underlying medical conditions), I46.9 (Cardiac arrest, cause unspecified) are more specific codes that should be used when the cause of the cardiac arrest is known.

In simple words: Cardiac arrest means the heart suddenly stops beating. This stops blood flow to the body and causes unconsciousness.If treated quickly, the heart can sometimes be restarted.

Cardiac arrest is a sudden cessation of the heart's pumping function, resulting in the absence of palpable pulse, breathing, and responsiveness.It can stem from various causes, including underlying heart conditions, arrhythmias, or other serious medical issues. Successful resuscitation is possible if prompt intervention occurs.

Example 1: A patient collapses suddenly, becomes unresponsive, and is found to be in cardiac arrest.CPR is initiated immediately, followed by defibrillation and successful resuscitation. The underlying cause is later determined to be ventricular fibrillation., A patient with a history of coronary artery disease experiences sudden chest pain, followed by loss of consciousness and cardiac arrest.Resuscitation efforts are unsuccessful, and the patient dies., A patient with a history of heart failure presents to the emergency department with shortness of breath, hypotension, and cardiac arrest. After successful resuscitation, the underlying cause is determined to be severe heart failure exacerbation.

Detailed documentation should include the circumstances of the arrest (sudden collapse, witnessed event, etc.), time of arrest and resuscitation efforts, the use of medications or equipment (CPR, defibrillation, epinephrine, etc.), the patient's response to treatment, any underlying medical conditions, and the final diagnosis.

** While I46 is a broad code for cardiac arrest, using more specific codes when possible (I46.0-I46.2) improves data accuracy and assists in tracking causes and treatment effectiveness.

** Only Enterprise users with EHR integration can access case-specific answers. Click here to request access.

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