Status Epilepticus and Cardiac Arrest in CO Poisoning
Status Epilepticus and Cardiac Arrest in CO Poisoning
Introduction Carbon monoxide poisoning can be associated with life-threatening complications, including significant and disabling cardiovascular and neurological sequelae.
Case presentation We report a case of carbon monoxide poisoning in a 25-year-old Saudi woman who presented to our facility with status epilepticus and cardiopulmonary arrest. Her carboxyhemoglobin level was 21.4 percent. She made a full recovery after we utilized a neuroprotective strategy and normobaric oxygen therapy, with no delayed neurological sequelae.
Conclusions Brain protective modalities are very important for the treatment of complicated cases of carbon monoxide poisoning when they present with neurological toxicities or cardiac arrest. They can be adjunctive to normobaric oxygen therapy when the use of hyperbaric oxygen is not feasible.
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning remains one of the most difficult medical emergencies to diagnose because of its non-specific and variable clinical presentation. In Saudi Arabia, accidental (as opposed to deliberate, that is, suicidal) exposure usually results from smoke inhalation from charcoal fires used for heating in rooms that are poorly ventilated during the winter season.
In our report, we describe the presentation and successful management of a woman with significant CO poisoning. We highlight the specific interventions that were employed to safeguard a favorable outcome by using a neuroprotective strategy. We also review the subject in general and advocate a systematic approach to its management based on available local resources. Our patient presented with status epilepticus and cardiopulmonary arrest. She was successfully managed by cerebral protection and normobaric oxygen therapy.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Introduction Carbon monoxide poisoning can be associated with life-threatening complications, including significant and disabling cardiovascular and neurological sequelae.
Case presentation We report a case of carbon monoxide poisoning in a 25-year-old Saudi woman who presented to our facility with status epilepticus and cardiopulmonary arrest. Her carboxyhemoglobin level was 21.4 percent. She made a full recovery after we utilized a neuroprotective strategy and normobaric oxygen therapy, with no delayed neurological sequelae.
Conclusions Brain protective modalities are very important for the treatment of complicated cases of carbon monoxide poisoning when they present with neurological toxicities or cardiac arrest. They can be adjunctive to normobaric oxygen therapy when the use of hyperbaric oxygen is not feasible.
Introduction
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning remains one of the most difficult medical emergencies to diagnose because of its non-specific and variable clinical presentation. In Saudi Arabia, accidental (as opposed to deliberate, that is, suicidal) exposure usually results from smoke inhalation from charcoal fires used for heating in rooms that are poorly ventilated during the winter season.
In our report, we describe the presentation and successful management of a woman with significant CO poisoning. We highlight the specific interventions that were employed to safeguard a favorable outcome by using a neuroprotective strategy. We also review the subject in general and advocate a systematic approach to its management based on available local resources. Our patient presented with status epilepticus and cardiopulmonary arrest. She was successfully managed by cerebral protection and normobaric oxygen therapy.
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