@article{ref1,
title="A retrospective study on carboxyhaemoglobin half-life in acute carbon monoxide poisoning in patients treated with normobaric high flow oxygen",
journal="Hong Kong journal of emergency medicine",
year="2006",
author="Li, C.K. and Tsui, K.L. and Hung, C.Y. and Yau, H.H. and Kam, C.W.",
volume="13",
number="4",
pages="205-211",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: There has been a vast difference in the reported value for carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) half-life (COHbt1/2) in carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning patients breathing 100% normobaric oxygen (O2). This could be due to the fact that all previous studies were performed on heterogeneous groups of patients with different aetiology. We wished to determine the COHbt1/2 in a homogenous group of acute CO poisoning patients who attempted suicide by burning charcoal and were treated with normobaric high flow oxygen. <br><br>METHODS: It was a retrospective descriptive cohort study for a period of 60 months (January 2001 to December 2005). Setting: Accident and Emergency Department of Tuen Mun Hospital, serving a population of 1.5 millions. Population: We recruited all cases of CO poisoning by burning charcoal for suicidal attempt and we excluded the cases if (1) there was only one COHb measurement; (2) the patient had not received high flow 02 therapy via tightly fitting facial mask with 02 reservoir, given before the first blood sample or throughout the period until a second blood sample was taken; (3) the first COHb was <10%; (4) the second COHb was <2%; (5) there was significant co-poisoning; (6) the patient was haemodynamically unstable; or (7) the time of blood sampling was not documented. We believed that the elimination of COHb under 100% normobaric 02 was constant and followed a simple exponential decay. <br><br>RESULTS: Forty-three (27.4%) cases met all of the selection criteria and the mean COHbt1/2 was 789 minutes. <br><br>CONCLUSION: We believed that our patients (i.e. CO poisoning patients who committed suicide by burning charcoal) represented a homogenous group of acute CO poisoning of unique aetiology. The estimated COHbt1/ 2 would be useful in deciding the length of normobaric oxygen therapy for this group of patients.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1024-9079",
doi="10.1177/102490790601300403",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/102490790601300403"
}