Alphabetic Index FY2027

T71.1

Asphyxiation due to mechanical threat to breathing

FY2027Chapter 19: Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes/T66–T78 Other and unspecified effects of external causes

Non-billable headerNot valid on its own. Use one of the more specific codes under it.

T71.1 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code header for asphyxiation due to mechanical threat to breathing. Report a more specific code from it instead. It is part of the FY2027 code set, effective October 1, 2026. The more specific codes under it are T71.11 Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, T71.12 Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, T71.13 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, T71.14 Asphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed) and 3 more. Its coding notes include a Use additional code instruction, a Code also instruction, 7 Excludes1 entries and 2 Excludes2 entries.

7th characters

Every code below needs one of these (defined at T71).

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T71

  • Ainitial encounter
  • Dsubsequent encounter
  • Ssequela

Guidelines tip

From the FY2027 Official Guidelines. ICD10Ref adds no rules of its own.

The 7th character depends on whether the patient is in active treatment, not on who sees the patient. An aftercare Z code is not used for injury aftercare.

Guidelines I.C.19.aInjuries: application of 7th charactersRead the official text

Use additional code

Add the listed code as a secondary code, if known.

Also from chapter/block level (1 note)
Inherited from Chapter 19 Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
  • code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)

Code also

Two codes may be needed to describe the condition. This note gives no sequencing order.

Also from chapter/block level (6 notes)
Inherited from T66–T78 Other and unspecified effects of external causes
  • , 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-)

Excludes1

Not coded here. The listed conditions generally should not be reported together.

Inherited from T71 Asphyxiation
  • 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.-)

Excludes2

Not included here. Both codes may be reported if the patient has both conditions.

Also from chapter/block level (2 notes)
Inherited from Chapter 19 Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
  • birth trauma (P10-P15)
  • obstetric trauma (O70-O71)

Inclusion terms

Conditions classified to this code.

This code
  • Suffocation due to mechanical threat to breathing

Notes

Also from chapter/block level (2 notes)
Inherited from Chapter 19 Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
  • Use secondary code(s) from Chapter 20, External causes of morbidity, to indicate cause of injury. Codes within the T section that include the external cause do not require an additional external cause code
  • The chapter uses the S-section for coding different types of injuries related to single body regions and the T-section to cover injuries to unspecified body regions as well as poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.

More specific codes under T71.1 7