Acute Kidney Injury ICD-10 Code: N17.9
Last updated: January 4, 2026
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is coded using the N17 category. Code selection depends on the type and severity.
AKI Code Selection
| Code | Description | Use When |
|---|---|---|
| N17.9 | Acute kidney failure, unspecified | AKI NOS |
| N17.0 | Acute kidney failure with tubular necrosis | ATN documented |
| N17.1 | Acute kidney failure with acute cortical necrosis | Cortical necrosis |
| N17.2 | Acute kidney failure with medullary necrosis | Medullary necrosis |
| N17.8 | Other acute kidney failure | Specified other type |
AKI by Etiology
| Type | Cause | Code Etiology First |
|---|---|---|
| Prerenal | Hypovolemia, sepsis | Code cause + N17.9 |
| Intrinsic | ATN, GN, interstitial | N17.0 (ATN) or N17.8 |
| Postrenal | Obstruction | N13.x + N17.9 |
| Drug-induced | Nephrotoxic drugs | T-code + N17.9 |
| Contrast-induced | Contrast media | T50.8X5- + N17.9 |
KDIGO Staging (Clinical Reference)
| Stage | Creatinine Criteria | Urine Output |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.5-1.9x baseline or >=0.3 mg/dL rise | <0.5 mL/kg/h for 6-12h |
| 2 | 2.0-2.9x baseline | <0.5 mL/kg/h for >=12h |
| 3 | >=3x baseline or >=4.0 mg/dL | <0.3 mL/kg/h for >=24h or anuria >=12h |
Note: ICD-10 does not have stage-specific codes; document stage in notes.
Coding Tips
- Code etiology first: Sepsis (A41.x), obstruction (N13.x), drug toxicity
- ATN: Use N17.0 when tubular necrosis is specifically documented
- CKD + AKI: Code both N18.x (CKD stage) and N17.9 (AKI on CKD)
- Query if chronic vs acute unclear: AKI vs CKD affects DRG
Related Codes
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| N18.1-N18.6 | Chronic kidney disease (stages 1-5) |
| N19 | Unspecified kidney failure |
| N13 | Obstructive uropathy |
| R39.2 | Extrarenal uremia |
Frequently Asked Questions
N17.9 (Acute kidney failure, unspecified) is the primary code for AKI. Use N17.0 for ATN (acute tubular necrosis) when documented.
Code both conditions: N18.x for the CKD stage and N17.9 for the acute component. The acute injury is coded separately from chronic disease.
Code T50.8X5- (adverse effect of diagnostic agents) as primary, then N17.9 for the acute kidney injury.
Related Resources
Last updated: January 2026. Code data reflects ICD-10-CM 2026 version. This guide is for educational purposes only. Always verify codes against current official guidelines.