Central nervous system oxygen toxicity during hyperbaric treatment of patients with carbon monoxide poisoning

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) is associated with a recognized risk for clinical central nervous system (CNS) toxicity. The risk for oxygen convulsions during routine hyperbaric treatment of most routine conditions is extremely low. Previous observations have suggested that the incidence of CNS toxicity during HBO2 treatment for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning may be increased, both because of CNS injury caused by the poisoning and because higher treatment pressures are often utilized for this condition. This study reviews data from 900 CO-poisoned patients treated with HBO2 at Virginia Mason and Duke University Medical Centers from 1987 to 1996. One-third of the patient population was treated at each of the three HBO2 treatment pressures most commonly utilized for CO intoxication in North American multiplace chambers. Patient characteristics were similar in all groups. Among the 300 consecutive patients treated at each pressure, there was one seizure at 2.45 atm abs (0.3%), nine seizures at 2.80 atm abs (2.0%), and six seizures at 3.00 atm abs. This difference is statistically significant (P = 0.032; Fisher's Exact Test). The potential difference in seizure risk should be considered when selecting the HBO2 treatment pressure for CO poisoning.