ICD-10-CM Codes
S00-T88 Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
T66-T78 Other and unspecified effects of external causes
T71- Asphyxiation
2020 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T71.9

2020 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T71.9

Asphyxiation due to unspecified cause

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Non-Billable/Non-Specific Code

T71.9 should not be used for reimbursement purposes as there are multiple codes below it that contain a greater level of detail.
The 2020 edition of ICD-10-CM T71.9 became effective on October 1, 2019.
This is the American ICD-10-CM version of T71.9 - other international versions of ICD-10 T71.9 may differ.

Applicable To

Suffocation (by strangulation) due to unspecified cause
Suffocation NOS
Systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air due to unspecified cause
Systemic oxygen deficiency due to mechanical threat to breathing due to unspecified cause
Traumatic asphyxia NOS

The following code(s) above T71.9 contain annotation back-references

Annotation Back-References

In this context, annotation back-references refer to codes that contain:

Applicable To annotations, or
Code Also annotations, or
Code First annotations, or
Excludes1 annotations, or
Excludes2 annotations, or
Includes annotations, or
Note annotations, or
Use Additional annotations

that may be applicable to T71.9:

S00-T88
2020 ICD-10-CM Range S00-T88
Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
Note
- 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
Type 1 Excludes
- birth trauma (P10-P15)
- obstetric trauma (O70-O71)
Use Additional
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
T71
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T71
Asphyxiation
Applicable To
- Mechanical suffocation
- Traumatic suffocation
Type 1 Excludes
- 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.-)
Asphyxiation

Clinical Information

A condition due to lack of oxygen in respired air, resulting in impending or actual cessation of life.
A pathological condition caused by lack of oxygen, manifested in impending or actual cessation of life.
The stopping of respiration or the asphyxia that results from it.

Code History

2016 (effective 10/1/2015): New code (first year of non-draft ICD-10-CM)
2017 (effective 10/1/2016): No change
2018 (effective 10/1/2017): No change
2019 (effective 10/1/2018): No change
2020 (effective 10/1/2019): No change

Diagnosis Index entries containing back-references to T71.9:

Asphyxia, asphyxiation (by) R09.01
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R09.01
Asphyxia
- traumatic T71.9

ICD-10-CM Codes Adjacent To T71.9

T71.233D …… subsequent encounter

T71.233S …… sequela

T71.234 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, undetermined

T71.234A …… initial encounter

T71.234D …… subsequent encounter

T71.234S …… sequela

T71.29 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in other low oxygen environment

T71.29XA …… initial encounter

T71.29XD …… subsequent encounter

T71.29XS …… sequela

T71.9 Asphyxiation due to unspecified cause

T71.9XXA …… initial encounter

T71.9XXD …… subsequent encounter

T71.9XXS …… sequela

T73 Effects of other deprivation

T73.0 Starvation

T73.0XXA …… initial encounter

T73.0XXD …… subsequent encounter

T73.0XXS …… sequela

T73.1 Deprivation of water

T73.1XXA …… initial encounter

Reimbursement claims with a date of service on or after October 1, 2015 require the use of ICD-10-CM codes.

2020 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T71.9

Asphyxiation due to unspecified cause

Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes

Asphyxiation

Asphyxia