T71.144A Asphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), undetermined, initial encounter

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026.

Built from T71.144 with 7th character A (initial encounter).

Applies from T71 Asphyxiation

Applicable to

• Mechanical suffocation
• Traumatic suffocation

Excludes1 (never code together)

• 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 note

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

7th character required

• A — initial encounter
• D — subsequent encounter
• S — sequela

Applies from T71.1 Asphyxiation due to mechanical threat to breathing

Applicable to

• Suffocation due to mechanical threat to breathing

Code annotations containing back-references to T71.144A

Back-references to T71

• Type 1 Excludes: R09.0 Asphyxia and hypoxemia ("traumatic asphyxia (T71.-)")

Diagnosis Index entries for T71.144A

• Asphyxia, asphyxiation (by) › traumatic › due to › mechanical threat to breathing (accidental) › smothering › under › another person's body › circumstances undetermined

Nearby codes

• T71.143 Asphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), assault
• T71.143A Asphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), assault, initial encounter
• T71.143D Asphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), assault, subsequent encounter
• T71.143S Asphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), assault, sequela
• T71.144 Asphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), undetermined
• T71.144A Asphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), undetermined, initial encounter (this code)
• T71.144D Asphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), undetermined, subsequent encounter
• T71.144S Asphyxiation due to smothering under another person's body (in bed), undetermined, sequela
• T71.15 Asphyxiation due to smothering in furniture
• T71.151 Asphyxiation due to smothering in furniture, accidental
• T71.151A Asphyxiation due to smothering in furniture, accidental, initial encounter