Case Report

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

10.5222/otd.2017.1106

  • Yaşar İncekaya
  • Hatice Feyizi
  • Selin Bayraktar
  • İncila Ali
  • Cem Topuz
  • Serap Karacalar
  • Namigar Turgut

Received Date: 02.05.2016 Accepted Date: 17.08.2016 Eur Arc Med Res 2017;33(2):114-118

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, nonirritant gas that accounts for numerous cases of CO poisoning every year from a variety of sources of incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons. Once CO is inhaled it binds with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) with an affinity 200 times greater than oxygen that leads to decreased oxygencarrying capacity and decreased release of oxygen to tissues leading to tissue hypoxia. The cornerstone for treatment for CO poisoning is 100% oxygen using a tight-fitting mask for greater than 6 hours. The indications for treatment with hyperbaric oxygen to decrease the half-life of COHb remain controversial. Herein we present 2 patients who were admitted to intensive care with a diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning and undergone hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Keywords: carbon monoxide poisoning, hyperbaric oxygenation, oxygen