T71.21XS is the authoritative medical code for Asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth, sequela. This classification is used in medical billing and clinical recording to specify the clinical criteria for asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth, sequela (ICD-10-CM T71.21XS), ensuring healthcare documentation aligns with 2026 federal coding standards.
Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.
Official Registry Overview & Definition
Asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth, sequela is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code T71.21S. Excludes1 (not coded here): 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.-. Use additional code: code for any associated cataclysm X34-X38. Code also: , 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-. 7th character: The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T71.
Official Tabular Instructional Notes
Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for T71.21XS in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.
Excludes1 — Not Coded Here
Conditions that can never be reported with this code; the two are mutually exclusive.
- 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.-
Code Also
Additional codes that may be required to fully describe 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-
Use Additional Code
Supplementary codes the tabular list directs you to add.
- code for any associated cataclysm X34-X38
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance
Does T71.21XS require a 7th character?
Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T71.
What can't be coded together with T71.21XS?
Per Excludes1 instructions, T71.21XS must not be reported with: acute respiratory distress (syndrome) (J80); anoxia due to high altitude (T70.2); asphyxia NOS (R09.01); asphyxia from carbon monoxide (T58.-).
Is an additional code needed with T71.21XS?
Use additional code(s) to specify: code for any associated cataclysm (X34-X38).
Codes in This Family (40)
Official ICD-10-CM classifications in the same code family as T71.21XS, with their registry titles.
- T71 — Asphyxiation
- T71.1 — Asphyxiation due to mechanical threat to breathing
- T71.11 — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow
- T71.111 — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, accidental
- T71.111A — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, accidental, initial encounter
- T71.111D — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, accidental, subsequent encounter
- T71.111S — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, accidental, sequela
- T71.112 — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, intentional self-harm
- T71.112A — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, intentional self-harm, initial encounter
- T71.112D — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, intentional self-harm, subsequent encounter
- T71.112S — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, intentional self-harm, sequela
- T71.113 — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, assault
- T71.113A — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, assault, initial encounter
- T71.113D — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, assault, subsequent encounter
- T71.113S — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, assault, sequela
- T71.114 — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, undetermined
- T71.114A — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, undetermined, initial encounter
- T71.114D — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, undetermined, subsequent encounter
- T71.114S — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, undetermined, sequela
- T71.12 — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag
- T71.121 — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, accidental
- T71.121A — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, accidental, initial encounter
- T71.121D — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, accidental, subsequent encounter
- T71.121S — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, accidental, sequela
- T71.122 — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, intentional self-harm
- T71.122A — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, intentional self-harm, initial encounter
- T71.122D — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, intentional self-harm, subsequent encounter
- T71.122S — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, intentional self-harm, sequela
- T71.123 — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, assault
- T71.123A — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, assault, initial encounter
- T71.123D — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, assault, subsequent encounter
- T71.123S — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, assault, sequela
- T71.124 — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, undetermined
- T71.124A — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, undetermined, initial encounter
- T71.124D — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, undetermined, subsequent encounter
- T71.124S — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, undetermined, sequela
- T71.13 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens
- T71.131 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, accidental
- T71.131A — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, accidental, initial encounter
- T71.131D — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, accidental, subsequent encounter
Related Codes & Numerical Sequence (Crawl Map)
Search engines and indexers are advised to traverse adjacent medical codes in this sub-chapter range to find correlated diagnoses or therapeutic procedures: