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  3. V01–Y99
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  5. Exposure to high and low air pressure and changes in air pressure (W94)

Exposure to high and low air pressure and changes in air pressure (W94)

The ICD-10 code W94 covers conditions related to exposure to varying air pressures, including prolonged and rapid changes in high or low air pressure. These codes are essential for accurately recording incidents such as accidents from diving or rapid altitude changes.

Specifically, W94.0 codes are used for exposure to prolonged high air pressure, commonly seen in accidents due to pressure changes in diving. Synonyms like "accident due to pressure changes in diving" help clarify these cases. Exposure to low air pressure, including extended stays at high altitude, is categorized under W94.1, with related synonyms highlighting accidents during prolonged high-altitude visits. The section also includes codes for rapid air pressure changes, such as those experienced during ascent or descent in aircraft or underwater, covered under codes like W94.2 for ascent and W94.3 for descent. These rapid change codes incorporate initial, subsequent, and sequela encounters, aiding thorough documentation of conditions like barotrauma or sudden altitude-related accidents. This structure helps medical coders select the accurate ICD-10 code for exposure to high and low air pressure events in diverse settings.

  • External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01–Y99)

    • Exposure to electric current, radiation and extreme ambient air temperature and pressure (W85-W99)

        • Exposure to high and low air pressure and changes in air pressure (W94)

        • W94 Exposure to high and low air pressure and changes in air pressure
        • W94.0 Exposure to prolonged high air pressure
        • W94.0XXA Exposure to prolonged high air pressure, initial encounter
        • W94.0XXD Exposure to prolonged high air pressure, subsequent encounter
        • W94.0XXS Exposure to prolonged high air pressure, sequela
        • W94.1 Exposure to prolonged low air pressure
        • W94.11 Exposure to residence or prolonged visit at high altitude
        • W94.11XA Exposure to residence or prolonged visit at high altitude, initial encounter
        • W94.11XD Exposure to residence or prolonged visit at high altitude, subsequent encounter
        • W94.11XS Exposure to residence or prolonged visit at high altitude, sequela
        • W94.12 Exposure to other prolonged low air pressure
        • W94.12XA Exposure to other prolonged low air pressure, initial encounter
        • W94.12XD Exposure to other prolonged low air pressure, subsequent encounter
        • W94.12XS Exposure to other prolonged low air pressure, sequela
        • W94.2 Exposure to rapid changes in air pressure during ascent
        • W94.21 Exposure to reduction in atmospheric pressure while surfacing from deep-water diving
        • W94.21XA Exposure to reduction in atmospheric pressure while surfacing from deep-water diving, initial encounter
        • W94.21XD Exposure to reduction in atmospheric pressure while surfacing from deep-water diving, subsequent encounter
        • W94.21XS Exposure to reduction in atmospheric pressure while surfacing from deep-water diving, sequela
        • W94.22 Exposure to reduction in atmospheric pressure while surfacing from underground
        • W94.22XA Exposure to reduction in atmospheric pressure while surfacing from underground, initial encounter
        • W94.22XD Exposure to reduction in atmospheric pressure while surfacing from underground, subsequent encounter
        • W94.22XS Exposure to reduction in atmospheric pressure while surfacing from underground, sequela
        • W94.23 Exposure to sudden change in air pressure in aircraft during ascent
        • W94.23XA Exposure to sudden change in air pressure in aircraft during ascent, initial encounter
        • W94.23XD Exposure to sudden change in air pressure in aircraft during ascent, subsequent encounter
        • W94.23XS Exposure to sudden change in air pressure in aircraft during ascent, sequela
        • W94.29 Exposure to other rapid changes in air pressure during ascent
        • W94.29XA Exposure to other rapid changes in air pressure during ascent, initial encounter
        • W94.29XD Exposure to other rapid changes in air pressure during ascent, subsequent encounter
        • W94.29XS Exposure to other rapid changes in air pressure during ascent, sequela
        • W94.3 Exposure to rapid changes in air pressure during descent
        • W94.31 Exposure to sudden change in air pressure in aircraft during descent
        • W94.31XA Exposure to sudden change in air pressure in aircraft during descent, initial encounter
        • W94.31XD Exposure to sudden change in air pressure in aircraft during descent, subsequent encounter
        • W94.31XS Exposure to sudden change in air pressure in aircraft during descent, sequela
        • W94.32 Exposure to high air pressure from rapid descent in water
        • W94.32XA Exposure to high air pressure from rapid descent in water, initial encounter
        • W94.32XD Exposure to high air pressure from rapid descent in water, subsequent encounter
        • W94.32XS Exposure to high air pressure from rapid descent in water, sequela
        • W94.39 Exposure to other rapid changes in air pressure during descent
        • W94.39XA Exposure to other rapid changes in air pressure during descent, initial encounter
        • W94.39XD Exposure to other rapid changes in air pressure during descent, subsequent encounter
        • W94.39XS Exposure to other rapid changes in air pressure during descent, sequela

Instructional Notations

7th Character Note

Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.

  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category W94

7th Character

Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.

  • A - initial encounter
  • D - subsequent encounter
  • S - sequela