Value of hyperbaric oxygen in suspected carbon monoxide poisoning
R. A. Myers, S. K. Snyder, S. Linberg and R. A. Cowley
The cases of four patients included sufficient circumstantial evidence to
suspect carbon monoxide poisoning as the principal etiologic agent,
although the diagnosis was unconfirmed. In two other patients, CO poisoning
was proven by elevated carboxyhemoglobin levels. All six patients were
transferred from outlying hospitals for failure to respond adequately to
standard therapy and recovered completely following treatment with
hyperbaric oxygen. Hyperbaric oxygen should be used for severe cases of
suspected CO poisoning, regardless of the time between exposure and
presentation, especially when the delay is sufficient to preclude a
diagnosis by standard laboratory methods.
