2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R55Syncope and collapse

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R50-R69›R55

ICD-10-CM R55
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

R55 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for syncope and collapse. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 312. As a symptom code, it should not be used as a principal diagnosis once a related definitive diagnosis has been established. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Syncope.

This medical diagnosis code is frequently used in Cardiology medical specialties to designate conditions such syncope and collapse.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R55
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Syncope and collapse
Short Description
Syncope and collapse
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
R50-R69
General symptoms and signs

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR50-R69General symptoms and signs
CategoryR55Syncope and collapse
This CodeR55Syncope and collapse

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Anoxic seizure
  • Brief loss of consciousness
  • Cardiac syncope
  • Collapse
  • Collapse due to asphyxia
  • Convulsive syncope
  • Defecation syncope
  • Deglutition syncope
  • Dissociative neurological symptom disorder co-occurrent with alteration of consciousness
  • Drop attack
  • Effort syncope
  • Elderly vasovagal syndrome
  • Hypotensive syncope
  • Incomplete loss of consciousness without amnesia
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Loss of consciousness due to epidural intracranial hemorrhage
  • Malignant vasovagal syndrome
  • Micturition syncope
  • Moderate loss of consciousness
  • Near syncope
  • Prolonged loss of consciousness
  • Robin sequence
  • Situational syncope
  • Syncope
  • Syncope and collapse
  • Syncope caused by centrifugal force in flying
  • Syncope due to autonomic failure
  • Syncope due to orthostatic hypotension
  • Syncope symptom
  • Tussive syncope
  • Vasovagal symptom
  • Vasovagal syncope
  • Vasovagal syncope due to immersion
  • Ventricular extrasystoles with syncope, perodactyly and Robin sequence syndrome
  • Witnessed syncope

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to R55: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 18. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Applicable To

Conditions this code is used for: synonyms of the title or, for "other specified" codes, the conditions assigned to it. The list is not exhaustive.

  • Blackout
  • Fainting
  • Vasovagal attack

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • cardiogenic shock (R57.0)
  • carotid sinus syncope (G90.01)
  • heat syncope (T67.1)
  • neurocirculatory asthenia (F45.8)
  • neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (G90.3)
  • orthostatic hypotension (I95.1)
  • postprocedural shock (T81.1-)
  • psychogenic syncope (F48.8)
  • shock NOS (R57.9)
  • shock complicating or following abortion or ectopic or molar pregnancy (O00-O07, O08.3)
  • shock complicating or following labor and delivery (O75.1)
  • Stokes-Adams attack (I45.9)
  • unconsciousness NOS (R40.2-)

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Chapter 18 (R00-R99) Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified applies to 774 codes
  • abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • signs and symptoms classified in the body system chapters
  • signs and symptoms of breast (N63, N64.5)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 18 (R00-R99) Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified applies to 774 codes
  • This chapter includes symptoms, signs, abnormal results of clinical or other investigative procedures, and ill-defined conditions regarding which no diagnosis classifiable elsewhere is recorded.
  • Signs and symptoms that point rather definitely to a given diagnosis have been assigned to a category in other chapters of the classification. In general, categories in this chapter include the less well-defined conditions and symptoms that, without the necessary study of the case to establish a final diagnosis, point perhaps equally to two or more diseases or to two or more systems of the body. Practically all categories in the chapter could be designated 'not otherwise specified', 'unknown etiology' or 'transient'. The Alphabetical Index should be consulted to determine which symptoms and signs are to be allocated here and which to other chapters. The residual subcategories, numbered .8, are generally provided for other relevant symptoms that cannot be allocated elsewhere in the classification.
  • The conditions and signs or symptoms included in categories R00-R94 consist of:
  • (a) cases for which no more specific diagnosis can be made even after all the facts bearing on the case have been investigated;
  • (b) signs or symptoms existing at the time of initial encounter that proved to be transient and whose causes could not be determined;
  • (c) provisional diagnosis in a patient who failed to return for further investigation or care;
  • (d) cases referred elsewhere for investigation or treatment before the diagnosis was made;
  • (e) cases in which a more precise diagnosis was not available for any other reason;
  • (f) certain symptoms, for which supplementary information is provided, that represent important problems in medical care in their own right.

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name R55, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming R55: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • R29.2 Abnormal reflex
    vasovagal reaction or syncope (R55)

Code First 1

These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and R55 is one of the conditions named.

  • R05.4 Cough syncope
    syncope and collapse (R55)

Use Additional Code 1

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and R55 is one of the codes named.

  • I49.82 Ventricular bigeminy
    syncope (R55)

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR SYM001
Syncope
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Syncope

    a transient loss of consciousness and postural tone caused by diminished blood flow to the brain (i.e., brain ischemia). presyncope refers to the sensation of lightheadedness and loss of strength that precedes a syncopal event or accompanies an incomplete syncope. (from adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, pp367-9)

Patient EducationClinical

Fainting

Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness. If you're about to faint, you'll feel dizzy, lightheaded, or nauseous. Your field of vision may "white out" or "black out." Your skin may be cold and clammy. You lose muscle control at the same time, and may fall down.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert R55 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
780.2 Syncope and collapse
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About R55Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for syncope and collapse?

The ICD-10-CM code for syncope and collapse is R55. It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is R55 (Syncope and collapse) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report syncope and collapse on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does R55 group to?

When syncope and collapse is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 312 (syncope and Collapse), which carries a relative weight of 0.8659. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can R55 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the syncope and collapse is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.

Can R55 be reported with R57.0?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on R55 lists "cardiogenic shock (R57.0)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).