Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was used in the treatment of 145 cases of carbon monoxide poisoning at Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital. Statistics were compiled in three groups, divided according to clinical condition of the patient when first seen in the hospital.
Results are as follows:
1. Of the 145 patients, 72 were ;male and 73 were female. Their ages ranged from 1 month to 76 years. Eighty three or 57.2% of this total group´s ages fell between 11 and 30 years.
2. Group 1 (conscious to cloudy consciousness with headache, nausea and vomiting. These patients were treated with two atmospheres of pressure for thirty minutes in the hyperbaric oxygen tank. Results show that all of the 36 patients, 100%, had headaches improved and went home without being admitted.
3. Group II (stuporous to light coma, active reflexes and react to painful stimuli). Of 40 patients, cr 97.5%, 39 completely recovered after receiving hyperbaric oxygen and only one patient died. This patient received treatment after being removed from his room for 15 hours and 45 minutes:
4. Group DI (deep coma, no light reflex, pulmonary symptoms, shock, etc.). These patients were treated at 2^´3 atmospheres of pressure, absolute, for one to two hours. Some received repeated treatments. Of 69 patients, 58 had complete recovery while 5 had incomplete recovery with permanent mental or physical disturbances and 7 patients died, usually several days to only a few hours after treatment.
5. Totaling the three groups, of the 145 patients 133 . completely recovered, 5 patients were discharged with incomplete recovery, and 7 patients died.
6. Blued carbon monoxide examinations ´c re done in 80 patients. Mean CO of blood was 18. 97% in patients of Group I , 17.1% in patients of Group and 26. 5% in Group ff .
5 patients were DOA and examination with cardiac puncture revealed mean CO of the blood to be 75%.
7. There was no correlation between blood CO and the patients clinical condition.
8. CO was eliminated from blood satisfactorily at 2^f3 ATA for 30 minutes to two hours of hyperbaric oxygen treatment.
9. 7 cases were treated at 3 atmospheres without serious oxygen toxicity while those treated at 2 atmospheres absolute had no oxygen toxicity.
10. When the time between discovery of the intoxicated patient and the beginning of treatment with hyper-bane oxygen is short, the results are more satisfactory.
11. Post anoxic symptoms due to CO intoxication usually improve if patients do not have irreversible brain damage.
12. There is no correlation between blood CO and CNS symptoms or clinical symptoms, therefore prognostic value or legal proof of cause of disease is not possible when blood CO is low.
13. Pulmonary symptoms prior to hyperbaric oxygen indicate extremely serious complications and poor prognosis.
14. CO intoxicated patients require excellent supportive care during their recovery period, including symptomatic treatment, antibiotics, clean airway, treatment cf cardio-pulmonary complications and electrolyte balance. Also, an late recoveries (2 -- 5 days) care of the skin to prevent decubitus ulcer is very important.
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