Neuropsychologic and functional recovery from severe carbon monoxide poisoning without hyperbaric oxygen therapy

To test the hypothesis that neuropsychologic test results and functional outcome will be abnormal if hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is not used in patients with severe carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

For a 1-year interval, we retrospectively identified all CO-poisoned patients who were comatose on presentation at a large, urban tertiary hospital and did not receive HBO therapy. Prospectively, 6 and 12 months after CO poisoning, we administered standardized questionnaires to assess functional outcome. At 6 months, we performed extensive neuropsychologic testing.

All four patients exhibited normal performance on a neuropsychologic test battery at 6 months. The Folstein Mini-Mental Status Examination was normal in all patients. All patients had normal functional outcomes.

Normal neuropsychologic and functional outcomes are possible after severe CO poisoning without the use of HBO therapy.