Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Alisa Wray, MD

doi:https://doi.org/10.21980/J8KH59C

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Alisa Wray, MD^*

^*University of California, Irvine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Orange, CA

Correspondence should be addressed to Alisa Wray, MD at awray@uci.edu

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21980/J8KH59CIssue 1:1

Toxicology Board Review Certifying Exam Cases

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ABSTRACT

Audience:

This oral boards case is appropriate for all emergency medicine learners (residents, interns, and medical students).

Introduction:

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless and odorless gas that typically results from combustion. It binds hemoglobin, dissociating oxygen, causing headache, weakness, confusion and possible seizure or coma. Pulse oxygen levels may be falsely elevated. Practitioners should maintain a high index of suspicion for carbon monoxide poisoning. If caught early CO poisoning is reversible with oxygen or hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Objectives:

By the end of this oral boards case, the learner will: 1) demonstrate ability to evaluate a patient with altered mental status and discuss the differential diagnosis of a patient with altered mental status and weakness, 2) recognize the signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, 3) demonstrate the ability to manage treatment of a patient with carbon monoxide poisoning.

Method:

Oral boards case

Topics:

Carbon monoxide poisoning, toxicology, carboxyhemoglobin, altered mental status, oral boards, hypoxia, pulse oximetry.