• M W Diltoer, I O Colle, I Hubloue, J Ramet, H D Spapen, N Nguyen, and L P Huyghens.
• Intensive Care Department, University Hospital, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
• Eur J Emerg Med. 1995 Dec 1; 2 (4): 231-5.

AbstractWe describe the case of an adolescent who developed a severe but fully reversible cardiac dysfunction with low blood levels of carboxy haemoglobin (COHb = 10%) after a prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide. A 15-year-old male was admitted with a Glasgow Coma Scale of 8/15 with suspected postictal state and postanoxic encephalopathy. The cardiorespiratory failure which he developed soon after admission mandated mechanical ventilation, inotropic support and ultimately left ventricular support by intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation. The cardiac dysfunction was documented by radionuclide imaging and echocardiography. The patient fully recovered without neurological deficit. A low blood COHb concentration is a poor safety indicator since high tissue levels of accumulated carbon monoxide can be associated with coma and fulminant cardiorespiratory failure requiring advanced life support facilities.

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