Cardiac arrest

This code represents the sudden cessation of effective heart function, leading to the absence of blood circulation and oxygen delivery to the body's organs. It is a life-threatening medical emergency characterized by the abrupt loss of consciousness, breathing, and pulse.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a patient experienced a cardiac arrest, regardless of the underlying cause or whether resuscitation efforts were successful. This code is appropriate for both out-of-hospital and in-hospital events. Supporting documentation includes physician notes detailing the event, resuscitation attempts, and patient outcome.

• Always sequence this code as the principal diagnosis if it is the reason for admission.
• Do not confuse this with myocardial infarction (heart attack), which is a cause of cardiac arrest, not the arrest itself.
• Look for documentation of "cardiac arrest," "cardiopulmonary arrest," or "circulatory arrest."