T71 — Asphyxiation
Not billable
Is T71 billable?
No — T71 is a non-billable header code. T71 groups more specific codes and cannot be submitted on a claim. A valid ICD-10-CM code must be reported at the highest level of specificity available in its branch. Select one of the 60 billable codes beneath T71.
Billable codes under this header
- T71.9XXAAsphyxiation due to unspecified cause, initial encounter
- T71.9XXDAsphyxiation due to unspecified cause, subsequent encounter
- T71.9XXSAsphyxiation due to unspecified cause, sequela
- T71.20XAAsphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air due to unspecified cause, initial encounter
- T71.20XDAsphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air due to unspecified cause, subsequent encounter
- T71.20XSAsphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air due to unspecified cause, sequela
- T71.21XAAsphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth, initial encounter
- T71.21XDAsphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth, subsequent encounter
- T71.21XSAsphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth, sequela
- T71.29XAAsphyxiation due to being trapped in other low oxygen environment, initial encounter
- T71.29XDAsphyxiation due to being trapped in other low oxygen environment, subsequent encounter
- T71.29XSAsphyxiation due to being trapped in other low oxygen environment, sequela
- T71.111AAsphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, accidental, initial encounter
- T71.111DAsphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, accidental, subsequent encounter
- T71.111SAsphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, accidental, sequela
- T71.112AAsphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, intentional self-harm, initial encounter
- T71.112DAsphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, intentional self-harm, subsequent encounter
- T71.112SAsphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, intentional self-harm, sequela
- T71.113AAsphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, assault, initial encounter
- T71.113DAsphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, assault, subsequent encounter
- T71.113SAsphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, assault, sequela
- T71.114AAsphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, undetermined, initial encounter
- T71.114DAsphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, undetermined, subsequent encounter
- T71.114SAsphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, undetermined, sequela
- T71.121AAsphyxiation due to plastic bag, accidental, initial encounter
- T71.121DAsphyxiation due to plastic bag, accidental, subsequent encounter
- T71.121SAsphyxiation due to plastic bag, accidental, sequela
- T71.122AAsphyxiation due to plastic bag, intentional self-harm, initial encounter
- T71.122DAsphyxiation due to plastic bag, intentional self-harm, subsequent encounter
- T71.122SAsphyxiation due to plastic bag, intentional self-harm, sequela
- T71.123AAsphyxiation due to plastic bag, assault, initial encounter
- T71.123DAsphyxiation due to plastic bag, assault, subsequent encounter
- T71.123SAsphyxiation due to plastic bag, assault, sequela
- T71.124AAsphyxiation due to plastic bag, undetermined, initial encounter
- T71.124DAsphyxiation due to plastic bag, undetermined, subsequent encounter
- T71.124SAsphyxiation due to plastic bag, undetermined, sequela
- T71.131AAsphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, accidental, initial encounter
- T71.131DAsphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, accidental, subsequent encounter
- T71.131SAsphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, accidental, sequela
- T71.132AAsphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, intentional self-harm, initial encounter
- T71.132DAsphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, intentional self-harm, subsequent encounter
- T71.132SAsphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, intentional self-harm, sequela
- T71.133AAsphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, assault, initial encounter
- T71.133DAsphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, assault, subsequent encounter
- T71.133SAsphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, assault, sequela
- T71.134AAsphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, undetermined, initial encounter
- T71.134DAsphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, undetermined, subsequent encounter
- T71.134SAsphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, undetermined, sequela
- T71.141AAsphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), accidental, initial encounter
- T71.141DAsphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), accidental, subsequent encounter
- T71.141SAsphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), accidental, sequela
- T71.143AAsphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), assault, initial encounter
- T71.143DAsphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), assault, subsequent encounter
- T71.143SAsphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), assault, sequela
- T71.144AAsphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), undetermined, initial encounter
- T71.144DAsphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), undetermined, subsequent encounter
- T71.144SAsphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), undetermined, sequela
- T71.151AAsphyxiation due to smothering in furniture, accidental, initial encounter
- T71.151DAsphyxiation due to smothering in furniture, accidental, subsequent encounter
- T71.151SAsphyxiation due to smothering in furniture, accidental, sequela
T71 at a glance
| Code | T71 |
|---|---|
| Description | Asphyxiation |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
How is T71 listed in the External Cause Index?
These are the routes through the External Cause of Injuries Index that lead to T71 — how the injury happened, rather than what the injury was.
- Suffocation (accidental) (by external means) (by pressure) (mechanical)
Excludes1 — never code together
The conditions below can never be reported together with T71 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to T71.
- Mechanical suffocation
- Traumatic suffocation
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside T71 to fully describe the condition. T71 is sequenced first.
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 19
The conditions below are not part of T71, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T71 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Code also — inherited from T66-T78
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether T71 is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
- , if applicable, place of occurrence, such as:
- highway rest stop (Y92.523)
- school (private) (public) (state) as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.21-)
- service areas as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.52-)
- single-family non-institutional (private) house as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.01-)
- transport vehicle as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.81-)
What codes fall under T71? (3)
How long has T71 existed?
T71 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.
Which codes are confused with T71?
ICD-10-CM declares these codes mutually exclusive with T71 — exactly one of each pair can be correct for a given encounter.