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W81 ICD-10-CA code: Confined to or trapped in a low-oxygen environment

W81 is the ICD-10-CA code for “Confined to or trapped in a low-oxygen environment” in CIHI’s FY 2026–2027 release, in effect from Apr 1, 2026.

Official description

W81

Confined to or trapped in a low-oxygen environment

Short description: Confine/trap in low oxygen environment

ICD-10-CA · Canada

Index terms

Entries in CIHI’s alphabetical index that lead to W81. Searching the index by the condition the note names is how coders reach this code.

  • Confined in low oxygen environment
  • Shut in (accidentally), refrigerator
  • Trapped (accidentally), in low oxygen environment
  • Accident (to), diving, with, insufficient air supply
  • Shut in (accidentally), airtight space, except plastic bag
  • Lack of, air (refrigerator or closed place), suffocation by
  • Suffocation (accidental) (by external means) (by pressure) (mechanical), in, closed place
  • Suffocation (accidental) (by external means) (by pressure) (mechanical), in, refrigerator
  • Suffocation (accidental) (by external means) (by pressure) (mechanical), in, airtight place

Notes for W81

As CIHI prints them, with any note W81 takes from the headings above it.

Includes

  • Accidentally shut in refrigerator or other airtight spacediving with insufficient air supply

Use additional code

Add a code for this detail when the note documents it.

Excludes

Conditions classified elsewhere.

  • Suffocation by plastic bag (W83.-)

Note

  • This chapter, which in previous revisions of ICD constituted a supplementary classification, permits the classification of environmental events and circumstances as the cause of injury, poisoning and other adverse effects. Where a code from this section is applicable, it is intended that it shall be used in addition to a code from another chapter of the Classification indicating the nature of the condition. Most often, the condition will be classifiable to Chapter XIX, Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T98). Causes of death should preferably be tabulated according to both Chapter XIX and Chapter XX, but if only one code is tabulated then the code from Chapter XX should be used in preference. Other conditions that may be stated to be due to external causes are classified in Chapters I to XVIII. For these conditions, codes from Chapter XX should be used to provide additional information for multiple-condition analysis only.From Chapter 20: External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01-Y98)

Where W81 sits

  1. 1ChapterChapter 20: External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01-Y98)
  2. 2Block V01-X59Accidents
  3. 3Block W00-X59Other external causes of accidental injury
  4. 4Block W75-W84Other accidental threats to breathing
  5. 5Valid code W81Confined to or trapped in a low-oxygen environment

Source and release

Data release
ICD-10-CA · FY 2026–2027
Effective date
Apr 1, 2026
Publisher
CIHI

This page is built from the ICD-10-CA catalog that Vero Codes reads when it suggests codes: Canadian Institute for Health Information’s FY 2026–2027 release, imported from the publisher’s file and checked against it. The description, notes and structured data come from the same record.

See W81 in the CIHI source

Frequently asked questions

What does ICD-10-CA code W81 mean?

W81 is the ICD-10-CA code for “Confined to or trapped in a low-oxygen environment” in CIHI’s ICD-10-CA FY 2026–2027 release.

Where is W81 in ICD-10-CA?

W81 sits under W75-W84 Other accidental threats to breathing, within W00-X59 Other external causes of accidental injury, within V01-X59 Accidents, within Chapter 20: External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01-Y98).

What coding notes apply to W81?

ICD-10-CA lists Includes, Excludes, Use additional code, Note notes for W81, including those from the headings it sits under. They are listed on this page with where each one comes from.

Which ICD-10-CA release does this page use?

It uses CIHI’s FY 2026–2027 release, in effect from Apr 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027. It is a reference: confirm the code against the current list and the payer’s rules before you submit it.

Codes beside W81

W75Accidental suffocation and strangulation in bedW76Other accidental hanging and strangulationW77Threat to breathing due to cave-in, falling earth and other substancesW78Inhalation of gastric contentsW79Inhalation and ingestion of food causing obstruction of respiratory tractW80Inhalation and ingestion of other objects causing obstruction of respiratory tractW83Other specified threats to breathingW84Unspecified threat to breathing