ICD-10 Code I60.50 – Nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage from unspecified vertebral artery (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I60.50 – Nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage from unspecified vertebral artery
What it is
I60.50 identifies a spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage arising from a vertebral artery source when the side is not specified. It refers to bleeding into the subarachnoid space without trauma.
Clinical signs
Patients may present with sudden severe headache, neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, or altered consciousness. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation for the confirmed vascular source and laterality.
When to use this code
Use this code when the provider documents a nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage linked to the vertebral artery and does not identify right or left side. It fits imaging or specialist notes that specify vertebral artery origin. If the record only says subarachnoid hemorrhage without a vessel source, check documentation.
Do not use for
Do not use it for traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage or when the hemorrhage is documented from a different artery. If the vertebral artery side is known, select the laterality-specific code instead.
Coding tip
Verify both the nontraumatic nature and the exact artery source before assigning I60.50.