Carbon monoxide poisoning and treatment with hyperbaric oxygen in the subacute phase

摘要

The use of normobaric versus hyperbaric (>2 atm) oxygen in thetreatment of carbon monoxide intoxication continues to be a matter ofdebate despite reports of increased efficacy with hyperbaric oxygen.When hyperbaric oxygen is used, immediate treatment is preferred forbest results. The therapeutic window of time, however, is unknown. Apatient presented with acute confusion and partial retrograde and totalanterograde memory loss due to carbon monoxide poisoning. He wasinitially treated with normobaric oxygen and failed to show appreciableimprovement. One month after carbon monoxide exposure the patientunderwent treatment with hyperbaric oxygen and showed appreciablesymptom relief confirmed by clinical findings and neuropsychologicaltesting. This case shows that hyperbaric oxygen may be efficacious inthe recovery of neuropsychiatric function up to 1 month after carbonmonoxide induced brain injury.