T71

ICD-10Non-billable category

Asphyxiation

Official ICD-10-CM descriptor (FY2026)

Asphyxiation

T71 is a category heading, not a billable code. CMS does not accept it on a claim; report one of the more specific codes beneath it.

Inclusion terms

  • Mechanical suffocation
  • Traumatic suffocation

Excludes1

Not coded here. An Excludes1 code should never be reported at the same time as the code above it.

  • 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.-)

7th character

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

Permitted 7th characters

Ainitial encounter
Dsubsequent encounter
Ssequela

More specific codes under T71

Where this code sits

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Source

ICD-10-CM FY2026. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) / National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), “2026 ICD-10-CM Code Descriptions in Tabular Order” (icd10cm_order_2026.txt). Download the original file from cms.gov. Public domain (US Government work). Descriptors, billable flags and instructional notes on this page are reproduced from that file without modification. Krasyn adds no clinical guidance.

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