ICD-10-CM 2027
ICD-10 code for traumatic asphyxia
From the official ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry “Asphyxia, asphyxiation (by) › traumatic”. Page updated September 29, 2026.
About coding traumatic asphyxia
The ICD-10-CM code for traumatic asphyxia is T71.9 (Asphyxiation due to unspecified cause). The official index lists 39 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on T71.9.
Within T71, choose T71.9 (due to unspecified cause) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: due to mechanical threat to breathing (T71.1) and due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air (T71.2).
Codes in this range require a 7th character: A for initial encounter, D for subsequent encounter and S for sequela. Use placeholder "X" characters to fill any empty positions before the 7th character.
It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.
More specific traumatic asphyxia codes (official index)
- due to
- crushed chest S28.0 — Crushed chest
- foreign body (in)
- low oxygen content of ambient air T71.20 — Asphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air due to unspecified cause
- due to
- being trapped in
- low oxygen environment T71.29 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in other low oxygen environment
- in car trunk T71.221 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, accidental
- circumstances undetermined T71.224 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, undetermined
- done with intent to harm by
- another person T71.223 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, assault
- self T71.222 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, intentional self-harm
- in refrigerator T71.231 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, accidental
- circumstances undetermined T71.234 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, undetermined
- done with intent to harm by
- another person T71.233 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, assault
- self T71.232 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, intentional self-harm
- cave-in T71.21 — Asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth
- mechanical threat to breathing (accidental) T71.191 — Asphyxiation due to mechanical threat to breathing due to other causes, accidental
- circumstances undetermined T71.194 — Asphyxiation due to mechanical threat to breathing due to other causes, undetermined
- done with intent to harm by
- another person T71.193 — Asphyxiation due to mechanical threat to breathing due to other causes, assault
- self T71.192 — Asphyxiation due to mechanical threat to breathing due to other causes, intentional self-harm
- hanging T71.161 — Asphyxiation due to hanging, accidental
- circumstances undetermined T71.164 — Asphyxiation due to hanging, undetermined
- done with intent to harm by
- another person T71.163 — Asphyxiation due to hanging, assault
- self T71.162 — Asphyxiation due to hanging, intentional self-harm
- plastic bag T71.121 — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, accidental
- circumstances undetermined T71.124 — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, undetermined
- done with intent to harm by
- another person T71.123 — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, assault
- self T71.122 — Asphyxiation due to plastic bag, intentional self-harm
- smothering
- in furniture T71.151 — Asphyxiation due to smothering in furniture, accidental
- circumstances undetermined T71.154 — Asphyxiation due to smothering in furniture, undetermined
- done with intent to harm by
- another person T71.153 — Asphyxiation due to smothering in furniture, assault
- self T71.152 — Asphyxiation due to smothering in furniture, intentional self-harm
- under
- another person's body T71.141 — Asphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), accidental
- circumstances undetermined T71.144 — Asphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), undetermined
- done with intent to harm T71.143 — Asphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), assault
- pillow T71.111 — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, accidental
- circumstances undetermined T71.114 — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, undetermined
- done with intent to harm by
- another person T71.113 — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, assault
- self T71.112 — Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, intentional self-harm
- trapped in bed clothes T71.131 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, accidental
- circumstances undetermined T71.134 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, undetermined
- done with intent to harm by
- another person T71.133 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, assault
- self T71.132 — Asphyxiation due to being trapped in bed linens, intentional self-harm
Common questions about traumatic asphyxia ICD-10 codes
What is the ICD-10 code for traumatic asphyxia?
- T71.9 — Asphyxiation due to unspecified cause (a header code; report a more specific subcode). More specific codes apply when the documentation supports them: S28.0, T71.20, T71.29, T71.221 and others below.
Is T71.9 billable?
- No. T71.9 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.