Carbon monoxide intoxication: What we know

Burns. 2019 May;45(3):526-530. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2018.07.006. Epub 2018 Aug 16.

Abstract

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic, color-, taste- and odorless gas with fatal consequences if undetected. Intoxication caused by CO is frequent possibly leading to a high morbidity and mortality. The disease involves multiple organ systems without a typical clinical presentation. The clinical picture is furthermore unrelated to levels of carboxyhemoglobin - the routine biomarker. Therefore the diagnosis and treatment can be very demanding. This article in detail reviews epidemiology, symptoms, diagnosis and the therapy of this multidisciplinary challenge.

Keywords: CO intoxication; COHb; Carbon monoxide.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac
  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / diagnosis
  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / epidemiology
  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / physiopathology*
  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / therapy
  • Carboxyhemoglobin
  • Dyspnea
  • Headache
  • Humans
  • Hyperbaric Oxygenation / methods
  • Hypotension
  • Mental Disorders
  • Myocardial Ischemia
  • Nausea
  • Nervous System Diseases
  • Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / methods
  • Respiration, Artificial / methods
  • Tachycardia
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

Substances

  • Carboxyhemoglobin