title: Analysis of patients presenting to the emergency department with carbon monoxide intoxication.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Carbon monoxide is a potentially fatal form of poisoning. The exact incidence is unclear, due to cases being undiagnosed or reported as fewer than the real number. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is of proven efficacy in the treatment of CO intoxication. The purpose of this study was to describe the general characteristics of carbon monoxide (CO) intoxications presenting to the emergency department and to investigate troponin I values and the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients presenting to the emergency department with CO intoxication over one year and patients with such intoxications receiving HBOT were examined retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred seventy-one patients were included; 140 (81.9%) were poisoned by stoves, 18 (10.5%) by hot water boilers and 10 in (5.8%) by fires. COHb levels were normal in 49 of the 163 patients whose values were investigated, and were elevated in 114 patients. Mean COHb value was 16.6. Troponin I values were investigated in 112 patients. These were normal in 86 patients and elevated in 26. Mean troponin I value was 0.38 ng/ml. One hundred twenty-three of the 171 patients in the study were discharged in a healthy condition after receiving normobaric oxygen therapy, while 48 patients received HBOT. Forty-two (87.5%) of the patients receiving HBOT were discharged in a healthy condition while sequelae persisted in five (10.4%). One patient died after 15 session of HBOT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although elevated carboxyhemoglobin confirms diagnosis of CO intoxication, normal levels do not exclude it. Troponin I levels may rise in CO intoxication. No significant relation was observed between carboxyhemoglobin and receipt of HBOT. A significant correlation was seen, however, between troponin I levels and receipt of HBOT.
authors.affiliation: Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yurtseven
authors.affiliation: Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, Department of Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.affiliation: Diyarbakır Selahaddin Eyyubi State Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Umut
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Eryigit
authors.affiliation: Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mucahit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gunaydin
authors.affiliation: Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tatli
authors.affiliation: Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Faruk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ozsahin
authors.affiliation: Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yunus
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Karaca
authors.affiliation: Manisa State Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nurhak
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aksut
authors.affiliation: Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aygun
authors.affiliation: Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdulkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gunduz
keywords: Carbon monoxide intoxication; Echocardiography; Hyperbaric oxygen; Troponin I