gmergency!

Carbon Monoxide Hyperbaric Indications

(These totally vary by center.)

• Level > 25%
• Level > 15% (if pregnant)
• Fetal Distress
• Syncope
• Coma
• Acidosis
• Age > 60
• Neuro Findings
• Children
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Headache or Chest Pain

• Maybe Prevents Delayed Neuro Sequelae (Conflicting Data):

• Numbness

• Paralysis
• Paresthesias
• Basal Ganglia Infarcts

• And Psych Sequelae:

• Cloudy thoughts

• Trouble concentrating
• Amnesia
• Depressed Mood
• Remember, all tubes (foley, eg) must be filled with water, not air!

Carbon Monoxide Half-Life

HbCO levels often do not reflect the clinical picture, yet symptoms typically begin with headaches at levels around 10%. Levels of 50-70% may result in seizure, coma, and fatality.

CO is eliminated through the lungs.

• Half-life of CO at room air temperature is 3-4 hours.
• One hundred percent oxygen reduces the half-life to 30-90 minutes;
• Hyperbaric oxygen at 2.5 atm with 100% oxygen reduces it to 15-23 minutes.