ICD-10 Code I46 – Cardiac arrest (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I46 – Cardiac arrest
What it is
Cardiac arrest is the sudden stopping of effective heart activity, causing loss of circulation. Use this code when documentation states cardiac arrest or arrest of cardiac function.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include unresponsiveness, absent pulse, and apnea or agonal breathing. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation.
When to use this code
Use I46 when the provider documents cardiac arrest as the diagnosis, whether witnessed or unwitnessed. It may apply in emergency care, inpatient records, or death-related documentation when arrest is the coded condition. Check documentation for the specific arrest type if recorded.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for chest pain, syncope, or other symptoms without documented arrest. If the record identifies a specific underlying cause or a different cardiac event, code that condition instead.
Coding tip
Review the record for the exact wording and any documented cause, because cardiac arrest is often coded with additional diagnoses.