Value of hyperbaric oxygen in suspected carbon monoxide poisoning

The cases of four patients included sufficient circumstantial evidence to suspect carbon monoxide poisoning as the principal etiologic agent, although the diagnosis was unconfirmed. In two other patients, CO poisoning was proven by elevated carboxyhemoglobin levels. All six patients were transferred from outlying hospitals for failure to respond adequately to standard therapy and recovered completely following treatment with hyperbaric oxygen. Hyperbaric oxygen should be used for severe cases of suspected CO poisoning, regardless of the time between exposure and presentation, especially when the delay is sufficient to preclude a diagnosis by standard laboratory methods.