Anoxic brain damage, not elsewhere classified

This code represents brain injury resulting from a complete lack of oxygen to the brain, leading to widespread neuronal death. This condition typically arises from events such as cardiac arrest, severe respiratory failure, or suffocation, causing global cerebral ischemia. The resulting damage can lead to a spectrum of neurological deficits, from cognitive impairment to persistent vegetative state.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states "anoxic brain damage" or "hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy" due to a systemic lack of oxygen, and the cause is not related to anesthesia during labor/delivery or the puerperium, nor is it neonatal. This code is appropriate for adult and pediatric patients (excluding neonates) who have suffered brain injury from an anoxic event.

• Always code the underlying cause of the anoxia (e.g., cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest) first, if known and still active.
• Carefully review documentation to differentiate between anoxic (complete lack of oxygen) and hypoxic (reduced oxygen) brain injury; this code is specifically for anoxic.
• Be mindful of the Excludes1 notes to avoid incorrect co-coding with anesthesia-related cerebral anoxia or neonatal anoxia.