Cardiac arrest due to other underlying condition

This code signifies a sudden cessation of cardiac activity resulting from an underlying medical condition other than a primary cardiac event. It indicates that the heart stopped pumping blood effectively due to a systemic or non-cardiac etiology.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states cardiac arrest occurred secondary to a non-cardiac cause, such as severe sepsis, drug overdose, respiratory failure, or trauma. The medical record must specify the underlying condition responsible for the cardiac arrest.

• Always code the underlying condition causing the cardiac arrest first, followed by this code.
• Do not use this code if the cardiac arrest is due to a primary cardiac event (e.g., acute myocardial infarction, arrhythmia).
• Ensure the documentation explicitly links the cardiac arrest to a specific "other underlying condition" for accurate coding.