Citation

Diltoer MW, Colle IO, Hubloue I, Ramet J, Spapen HD, Nguyen N, Huyghens LP. Eur. J. Emerg. Med. 1995; 2(4): 231-235.

Affiliation

Intensive Care Department, University Hospital, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9422213

Abstract

We describe the case of an adolescent who developed a severe but fully reversible cardiac dysfunction with low blood levels of carboxy haemoglobin (COHb = 10%) after a prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide. A 15-year-old male was admitted with a Glasgow Coma Scale of 8/15 with suspected postictal state and postanoxic encephalopathy. The cardiorespiratory failure which he developed soon after admission mandated mechanical ventilation, inotropic support and ultimately left ventricular support by intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation. The cardiac dysfunction was documented by radionuclide imaging and echocardiography. The patient fully recovered without neurological deficit. A low blood COHb concentration is a poor safety indicator since high tissue levels of accumulated carbon monoxide can be associated with coma and fulminant cardiorespiratory failure requiring advanced life support facilities.

Language: en