title: Hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning.
abstract: Carbon monoxide, a byproduct of incomplete hydrocarbon combustion, has been responsible for many accidental poisonings worldwide. The signs and symptoms of poisoning are diverse, ranging from headache, dizziness, and confusion to cardiac and neurological disturbances. Oxygen is the cornerstone of treatment, because it accelerates the dissociation of carbon monoxide from heme proteins. The role of hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of CO poisoning is still questionable. Only a few randomized, controlled studies have been conducted, and their results are inconsistent. In the present review, we discuss the conclusions of four randomized controlled studies and propose a hyperbaric oxygen treatment protocol based on these conclusions.
authors.affiliation: IDF Medical Corps, Israel Naval Medical Institute, Haifa, Israel. liranura@bezeqint.net
authors.forename: Liran
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Domachevsky
authors.forename: Yochai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Adir
authors.forename: Motti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grupper
authors.forename: Yoav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Keynan
authors.forename: Yedidia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bentur
mesh_terms: D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic