[Familial poisoning by carbon monoxide with different ECG changes]

The paper presents the poisoning of a family of three by carbon monoxide, caused by incomplete combustion of butane gas in a central heating system, with various disturbances in conduction and ishaemic changes in the ECG. The father, mother and son were poisoned. The father had increased amylase activity in urine (507 i.u./L) and, a COHb concentration of 4.8%. An ECG registered a temporary block of the left branch of the His bundle and a negative T wave in the III lead, which continued for about two weeks. The mother had a COHb concentration of 6% and an extended PQ interval, whereas the son had 8.5% of COHb in the blood and a transient incomplete block of the right branch of the His bundle. After treatment with pressurised pure oxygen, the symptoms of poisoning disappeared, COHb concentration fell to below 1% and the ECG registered an improvement. During treatment the patients also received an infusion of piracetam.