Definition and Causes
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a highly toxic gas that has no color, no odor, and no taste. When inhaled, Carbon monoxide binds to
hemoglobin in red blood cells and blocks their capacity to carry oxygen to cells and tissues. Carbon monoxide
also causes cellular damage that directly injures blood vessels and the central nervous system.
Carbon monoxide is the most common cause of injury and death by poisoning, both accidental and intentional (suicide).
Common sources of CO gas include vehicles, generators, tools, cooking equipment, stoves, or furnaces that burn gasoline,
wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, kerosene, methane, or other fossil fuels.
Inhaling even small amounts of CO can be fatal. Serious neurological effects may be delayed days or weeks after acute
poisoning. Chronic exposure may cause persistent headaches, dizziness, nausea, and permanent neurological damage.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Approval Status
Read the
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
page in the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society resource library to learn more about carbon monoxide poisoning, the rationale
for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and key clinical evidence, outcomes, and success factors.
Treatment with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Supplemental oxygen, at normal or hyperbaric pressures, is the primary treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning. Hyperbaric
oxygen therapy (HBOT) dissolves additional oxygen in the blood plasma and has been shown to block all known cellular mechanisms
of CO toxicity. HBOT is also used to treat smoke inhalation in firefighters and other fire victims who suffer carbon monoxide
poisoning complicated by
cyanide poisoning.
hyperbariclink commentary
Every year CO poisoning accounts for some 50,000
emergency room visits
and kills about
450 Americans
by accidental exposure alone. US fire departments respond to seven nonfire CO incidents every hour
[NFPA, 2005]. For more than 50 years emergency physicians have been increasing their use of
hyperbaric oxygen to treat acute carbon monoxide poisoning, yet access to emergency-ready hyperbaric chambers remains
a public health crisis in the US today. Since 2008 the UHMS has participated in the CDC
national surveillance system
for carbon monoxide poisoning.
Findings from nearly 2,000 cases at 87 hyperbaric facilities in 39 states are just now emerging for careful analysis and
publication. These data will make a welcome addition to the medical literature, which currently lacks the strongest evidence,
from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), to support the routine use of hyperbaric oxygen for acute CO poisoning
[Cochrane Collaboration, 2011].
Patient Resources
HyperbaricLink recommends the following websites for anyone seeking authoritative information, patient advocacy, and community
support for carbon monoxide poisoning.
The AAPCC is a nonprofit organization representing 57 poison centers staffed by pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and toxicology
specialists who provide free, private, expert medical advice 24/7/365.
A leading authority on fire, electrical, and building safety, the NFPA provides free PDF downloads with excellent carbon
monoxide safety tips and CO detector guidelines.
The EPA website includes a complete and easy-to-read page on how to
Protect Your Family and Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Clinical Resources
Start with the following resources to explore current research activities and the peer-reviewed medical literature on
hyperbaric oxygen therapy for carbon monoxide poisoning.
The CDC is dedicated to protecting health and promoting quality of life through the prevention and control of disease,
injury, and disability. Its programs reduce the health and economic consequences of the leading causes of death and disability.
The CDC website includes an informative section on
carbon monoxide poisoning
and resource pages for its
routine
and
disaster surveillance frameworks.
An independent, international, nongovernmental organization, the Cochrane Collaboration is a powerful force in evidence-based
medicine. One may consider a Cochrane Reviews article on any HBOT topic required hyperbaric reading.
Read the Cochrane Reviews article
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for carbon monoxide poisoning
ClinicalTrials.gov keeps the official list of human clinical trials currently enrolling, in progress, and recently completed.
One may reasonably question the size and legitimacy of any study not listed here.
Search ClinicalTrials.gov for current studies of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and carbon monoxide poisoning
A specialized Google search engine, Google Scholar indexes scholarly articles, patents, and legal opinions and journals.
Google Scholar may generate excessive search results, but entries provide easy access to full-text journal articles.
Search Google Scholar for "carbon monoxide poisoning" and "hyperbaric oxygen"
HBOEvidence uses computerized tools to appraise the key randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the hyperbaric medical
literature. One may reasonably question the overall strength of HBOT evidence for any disease or condition not covered here.
Read the HBOEvidence appraisals for treatment of CO poisoning with hyperbaric oxygen therapy
PubMed.gov
US National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health
PubMed keeps the official list of scientific papers published in reputable peer-reviewed medical journals. One may reasonably question the importance and
legitimacy of any study not listed here.
Search PubMed.gov for journal articles relating to hyperbaric oxygen therapy and carbon monoxide
Related Terms
- Asphyxiation
- Cyanide poisoning
- Emergency medical services (EMS)
- Emergency medical technician (EMT)
- Fire
- Firefighter
- Paramedic
- Smoke inhalation
- Suicide
Further Learning
HyperbaricLink suggests
The Quiet Killer
CDC-TV Health Matters
(uploaded 12 February 2009)