Acute Carbon Monoxide Intoxication

Acute carbon monoxide intoxication induces hypoxic stress. The cardiac and central nervous systems are the most susceptible to injury from carbon monoxide. The administration of supplemental oxygen is essential treatment. Hyperbaric oxygen causes a higher rate of dissociation of carbon monoxide from hemoglobin than can occur breathing pure air at sea level pressure. It is not uncommon in patients with persistent neurological dysfunction to require subsequent treatments within six to eight hours, continuing once or twice daily until there is no further improvement in cognitive functioning.

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