T71.21 Asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth

Non-billable ICD-10-CM code.

Use additional code

• code for any associated cataclysm (X34-X38)

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 T71.2 Asphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air

Applicable to

• Suffocation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air

Code annotations containing back-references to T71.21

Back-references to T71.21

• Type 2 Excludes: W20.0 Struck by falling object in cave-in ("asphyxiation due to cave-in (T71.21)")

Back-references to T71

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

Diagnosis Index entries for T71.21

• Asphyxia, asphyxiation (by) › traumatic › due to › low oxygen content of ambient air › due to › cave-in

Nearby codes

• T71.2 Asphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air
• T71.20 Asphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air due to unspecified cause
• T71.20XA Asphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air due to unspecified cause, initial encounter
• T71.20XD Asphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air due to unspecified cause, subsequent encounter
• T71.20XS Asphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air due to unspecified cause, sequela
• T71.21 Asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth (this code)
• T71.21XA Asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth, initial encounter
• T71.21XD Asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth, subsequent encounter
• T71.21XS Asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth, sequela
• T71.22 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk
• T71.221 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, accidental