Asphyxiation due to smothering under pillow, assault, subs

This code describes a non-accidental injury where a patient experienced oxygen deprivation and suffocation caused by a pillow being intentionally placed over their face. This specific code is for a subsequent encounter, meaning the patient is receiving follow-up care for this assault.

Use this code for patients presenting for ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, or follow-up appointments related to an assault where smothering under a pillow was the mechanism of asphyxiation. This would include scenarios such as monitoring for long-term neurological effects, psychological counseling, or physical therapy.

• Ensure documentation clearly states the smothering was an assault and not accidental.
• Verify this is a subsequent encounter; for the initial encounter, a different seventh character would be used.
• Always code external cause codes (e.g., X99.0XXD for assault by smothering) in conjunction with this diagnosis code to provide a complete picture of the event.