Drowning and nonfatal submersion

This code signifies respiratory impairment resulting from immersion or submersion in a liquid medium, encompassing both fatal drowning and nonfatal submersion incidents. It describes the physiological consequences of water entering the airway, leading to hypoxia and potential multi-organ damage.

Apply this code when a patient presents with symptoms or sequelae directly related to an immersion incident, regardless of whether resuscitation was successful. Documentation should clearly state "drowning," "near drowning," or "submersion incident" with associated clinical findings such as respiratory distress, aspiration pneumonia, or cerebral anoxia.

• Always sequence this code as the primary diagnosis when it is the reason for the encounter.
• Do not confuse this with codes for aspiration of other substances; this is specific to liquid immersion.
• Ensure documentation specifies whether the incident was accidental, intentional, or undetermined, as external cause codes (E-codes) will be required.