Carbon Monoxide Headquarters





Carbon Monoxide Poisoning:


Treatment of CO Poisoning:

Emergent -

  • Normobaric (100%) Oxygen Therapy (NBO)
    Mask - tight-fitting, high-flow oxygen (15 liters/min.), non-rebreather - highly recommended; should be used until COHb is normal, symptoms are gone.
    Loose-fitting masks - not recommended
    Nasal Prongs - not recommended

  • Immediate, possibly repeated Psychometric Testing (ie. scaled-down neuropsychological testing)

  • Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO) - It should be used much more often than we currently see it being used.
    Once
    Many Times

  • Medical (ie. drug) Approaches - see Management


    Longterm -

  • HBO, NBO (experimental) - Rather low risk and low cost (NBO), but good results not guaranteed

  • Medications - can be prescribed by any physician

  • Neuropsychological Evaluation - generally the "gold standard" for residual effects

  • Cognitive Rehabilitation - often useful

  • Psychotherapy, Counseling - often useful

  • Occupational & Physical Therapy - often useful

  • Vocational Counseling and Therapy - often useful

  • Speech / Language Pathology - often useful

  • Ophthalmologic / neuro-optometric (ie. vision) evaluation - frequently useful

  • Audiometric (ie. hearing) evaluation - often useful

  • Vestibular Rehabilitation - when necessary

  • Other



    ............................................................................................... CO poisoning causes longterm health harm ..............................................................................................


    ........ Note: Beware of ineffective therapies for the residual effects of CO, recommended by those with limited experience with CO. Damage done to the central nervous system by CO is by and large remarkably resistant to repair and resolution. For further information and specific opinions regarding treatment in any given case, consult the webmaster. E-mail dpenney@cmb.biosci.wayne.edu


    see Glossary


    ...... last changed 09/10/02


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