Acute carbon monoxide poisoning

Abstract

The course and outcome in terms of cerebral morbidity and hospital mortality in 79 severely carbon monoxide poisoned patients admitted to the intensive care unit during a period of 15 years is presented. Treatment consisted of administration of pure oxygen. Ninety-four per cent of the patients were artificially hyperventilated, and the majority of the patients were also treated with moderate hypothermia, steroid hormones and diuretics. Hospital mortality was 30%, and 14% of the patients were discharged after long-term hospital treatment with signs of brain damage. Due to the unpredictable cerebral course after the acute incident long-term follow-up is recommended.