T71 Asphyxiation

⚠ Non-Billable ICD-10-CM 2026
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The ICD-10-CM code for Asphyxiation is T71 (FY2026). It is a non-billable category code — select a more specific code below for claims.

Classification

Section
T66-T78: Other and unspecified effects of external causes (T66-T78)
Category T71
51 codes (39 billable)
FY2026 Status
Stable since FY2024
Excludes1
Not coded here. These conditions should NOT be coded together with T71.
  • acute respiratory distress (syndrome) (J80)
  • anoxia due to high altitude (T70.2)
  • asphyxia NOS (R09.01)
  • asphyxia from carbon monoxide (T58.-)
  • asphyxia from inhalation of food or foreign body (T17.-)
  • asphyxia from other gases, fumes and vapors (T59.-)
  • respiratory distress (syndrome) in newborn (P22.-)

Inclusion Terms

  • Mechanical suffocation
  • Traumatic suffocation

Official Coding Guidelines

Sequence blood vessel/nerve injury first (fragment)

injury is to the blood vessels or nerves, that injury should be sequenced first.

— ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026, Section I.C.19.b.2
Do not assign injury codes for iatrogenic injuries; code complication

3) Iatrogenic injuries Injury codes from Chapter 19 should not be assigned for injuries that occur during, or as a result of, a medical intervention. Assign the appropriate complication code(s).

— ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026, Section I.C.19.b.3

Source: CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026

References

Cite This Page

Reference T71 with the canonical source and edition:

T71 — Asphyxiation. ICD-10 Coding Pro (ICD-10-CM FY2026). https://icd10codingpro.com/codes/T71

Canonical URL: https://icd10codingpro.com/codes/T71

Related Codes

More Specific Codes

T71.1 Asphyxiation due to mechanical threat to breathing T71.2 Asphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air T71.9 Asphyxiation due to unspecified cause

All Codes in T71

Every most-specific code under T71 Asphyxiation (39 codes):

Show the complete T71 code list
T71.111 Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, accidental T71.112 Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, intentional self-harm T71.113 Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, assault T71.114 Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, undetermined T71.121 Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, accidental T71.122 Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, intentional self-harm T71.123 Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, assault T71.124 Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, undetermined T71.131 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, accidental T71.132 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, intentional self-harm T71.133 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, assault T71.134 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, undetermined T71.141 Asphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), accidental T71.143 Asphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), assault T71.144 Asphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), undetermined T71.151 Asphyxiation due to smothering in furniture, accidental T71.152 Asphyxiation due to smothering in furniture, intentional self-harm T71.153 Asphyxiation due to smothering in furniture, assault T71.154 Asphyxiation due to smothering in furniture, undetermined T71.161 Asphyxiation due to hanging, accidental T71.162 Asphyxiation due to hanging, intentional self-harm T71.163 Asphyxiation due to hanging, assault T71.164 Asphyxiation due to hanging, undetermined T71.191 Asphyxiation due to mechanical threat to breathing due to other causes, accidental T71.192 Asphyxiation due to mechanical threat to breathing due to other causes, intentional self-harm T71.193 Asphyxiation due to mechanical threat to breathing due to other causes, assault T71.194 Asphyxiation due to mechanical threat to breathing due to other causes, undetermined T71.20 Asphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air due to unspecified cause T71.21 Asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth T71.221 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, accidental T71.222 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, intentional self-harm T71.223 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, assault T71.224 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, undetermined T71.231 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, accidental T71.232 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, intentional self-harm T71.233 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, assault T71.234 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, undetermined T71.29 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in other low oxygen environment T71.9 Asphyxiation due to unspecified cause
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Reviewed by Prajwal Shrestha, CPC, CRC
Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC) · AAPC Member ID 01997614 · About · Editorial policy · Content last reviewed: 2025-10-01

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