Incidence and Outcome of CO Poisoning in Burn Patients with Inhalation Injury

This prospective study was performed on 68 adult burn patients with inhalation injury admitted within 24 hours to the National Burn Hospital from November 2021 to November 2023. Patients were divided into groups of non-CO poisoning and CO poisoning (SpCO ≥10%). The results showed that when hospitalized, the rate of CO poisoning was 35.3%. Prehospital respiratory support was recorded in 58.8% of patients and there was no significant difference between the two groups (63.6% vs. 58.8%; p =.28). Admission SpO₂ of all patients was normal (96.9 vs 97.5%; p =.24). Meanwhile, compared to the non-poisoned group, the proportion of severe inhalation injury was significantly higher (29.2% vs. 9.1%; p =.03), likewise concentration of arterial lactate (5.2 ± 2.7 vs. 3.9 ± 1.8 mmol/l; p = .014) and hypocapnia rate (58.3 vs. 27.3%; p =.012), while lower PaCO₂ values (34.4 ± 7.1 vs. 39.9 ± 9.3 mmHg; p <.01) were seen in the CO poisoning group. The duration of mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay and mortality were not significantly different between the two groups. Further studies are needed to determine the prognostic value of admission SpCO in burn patients with inhalation injury.