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T71.9XXA ICD-10-CM Code: Asphyxiation due to unspecified cause, initial encounter

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v43.0, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 922 — OTHER INJURY, POISONING AND TOXIC EFFECT DIAGNOSES WITH MCC (MDC 21)
  • MS-DRG 923 — OTHER INJURY, POISONING AND TOXIC EFFECT DIAGNOSES WITHOUT MCC (MDC 21)

A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.

Official Registry Overview & Definition

Asphyxiation due to unspecified cause, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (T71.9A).

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for T71.9XXA in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.

Inclusion Terms

Alternative terms the tabular list files under this code.

  • 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

Excludes1 — Not Coded Here

Conditions generally not reported together with this code (Excludes1) -- an error unless the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Code Also

Additional codes that may be required to fully describe the encounter.

  • 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-)

Frequently Compared Codes

The official Excludes notes on T71.9XXA name these codes. Each comparison page covers when the two can — or must not — be reported together.

Change history

No changes recorded for this code — unchanged since the FY2016 baseline of the change ledger.

Verify Before Coding

  • CC as a secondary diagnosis (FY2026). Can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim.

Relationships & Classification

Official ICD-10-CM tabular notes on other codes that name T71.9XXA or its code family.

1 Excludes1 notes: R09.0 (via T71.-).

Potential MS-DRG Relationships (FY2026)

CC — Complication or Comorbidity. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, this code raises the stay's MS-DRG severity tier — except when the principal diagnosis is one of 39 clinically related codes on its CMS exclusion list.

Named in the grouper logic of 2 MS-DRGs: DRG 922 (MDC 21), DRG 923 (MDC 21).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):INJ021 — Effect of other external causes, initial encounter (default); EXT017 — External cause codes: suffocation/inhalation; initial encounter; EXT020 — External cause codes: intent of injury, accidental/unintentional.

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Contextual Map

Every relationship of T71.9XXA in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Hierarchy

  • S00-T88 — Chapter 19: Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88) (S00-T88) [Hierarchy]
  • T66-T78 — Other and unspecified effects of external causes [Hierarchy]

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

  • R09.0 — Asphyxia and hypoxemia [Excludes1](via T71.-): “traumatic asphyxia (T71.-)” · check together

Clinical classification (CCSR)

  • INJ021 — Effect of other external causes, initial encounter [CCSR]
  • EXT017 — External cause codes: suffocation/inhalation; initial encounter [CCSR]
  • EXT020 — External cause codes: intent of injury, accidental/unintentional [CCSR]

Potential MS-DRG

  • CC — Complication or Comorbidity [MS-DRG severity]: “As a secondary diagnosis this code can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier (CC).”
  • DRG 922 — OTHER INJURY, POISONING AND TOXIC EFFECT DIAGNOSES WITH MCC [MS-DRG]: “OTHER INJURY, POISONING AND TOXIC EFFECT DIAGNOSES WITH MCC (MDC 21)”
  • DRG 923 — OTHER INJURY, POISONING AND TOXIC EFFECT DIAGNOSES WITHOUT MCC [MS-DRG]: “OTHER INJURY, POISONING AND TOXIC EFFECT DIAGNOSES WITHOUT MCC (MDC 21)”

MDC crossing · procedures (32029)

  • MDC 21 — Injuries, Poisonings and Toxic Effects of Drugs [MDC crossing]: “Injuries, Poisonings and Toxic Effects of Drugs — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs.”
  • 0016070 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Nasopharynx with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Nasopharynx with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 21, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016071 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Mastoid Sinus with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Mastoid Sinus with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 21, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016072 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Atrium with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Atrium with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 21, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016073 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Blood Vessel with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Blood Vessel with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 21, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016074 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Pleural Cavity with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Pleural Cavity with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 21, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • and 32024 more

Nearest codes (40)

  • T71 — Asphyxiation [Sibling]
  • T71.221 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, accidental [Sibling]
  • T71.221A — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, accidental, initial encounter [Sibling]
  • T71.221D — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, accidental, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
  • T71.221S — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, accidental, sequela [Sibling]
  • T71.222 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, intentional self-harm [Sibling]
  • T71.222A — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, intentional self-harm, initial encounter [Sibling]
  • T71.222D — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, intentional self-harm, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
  • and 32 more

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance

Does T71.9XXA require a 7th character?

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

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to T71.9XXA in its code family, with their registry titles.

  • T71.234 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, undetermined
  • T71.234A — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, undetermined, initial encounter
  • T71.234D — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, undetermined, subsequent encounter
  • T71.234S — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, undetermined, sequela
  • T71.29 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in other low oxygen environment
  • T71.29XA — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in other low oxygen environment, initial encounter
  • T71.29XD — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in other low oxygen environment, subsequent encounter
  • T71.29XS — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in other low oxygen environment, sequela
  • T71.9 — Asphyxiation due to unspecified cause
  • T71.9XXD — Asphyxiation due to unspecified cause, subsequent encounter

View all codes in the T71 family