T71.231A Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, accidental, initial encounter

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026.

Built from T71.231 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 T71.2 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 T71.231A

Back-references to T71

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

Diagnosis Index entries for T71.231A

• Asphyxia, asphyxiation (by) › traumatic › due to › low oxygen content of ambient air › due to › being trapped in › low oxygen environment › in refrigerator

Nearby codes

• T71.224A Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, undetermined, initial encounter
• T71.224D Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, undetermined, subsequent encounter
• T71.224S Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a car trunk, undetermined, sequela
• T71.23 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator
• T71.231 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, accidental
• T71.231A Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, accidental, initial encounter (this code)
• T71.231D Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, accidental, subsequent encounter
• T71.231S Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, accidental, sequela
• T71.232 Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, intentional self-harm
• T71.232A Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, intentional self-harm, initial encounter
• T71.232D Asphyxiation due to being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator, intentional self-harm, subsequent encounter