Correct!
2. High-flow 100% FiO2 continued until carboxyhemoglobin levels have normalized.
Patients with significant CO poisoning should receive high-flow oxygen (2,3). Elimination of carbon monoxide is related to minute ventilation, duration of exposure to O2, and FiO2. The Half-life of HbCO is 4 to 6 hours breathing room air, 40 to 80 minutes breathing 100% O2 and 15 to 30 minutes breathing hyperbaric O2. Although pulse oximeters have improved, early models were notoriously inaccurate at measuring carboxyhemoglobin (3). The efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen is unclear. The delayed neuropsychiatric syndrome included a broad variety of symptoms after carbon monoxide exposure including cognitive defects, personality changes, psychic akinesia, parkinsonism, psychotic encephalopathy, amnesia, incontinence, gait disturbances, etc. Some advocated hyperbaric oxygen to prevent this syndrome but data have shown hyperbaric oxygen to be no more effective than 100% FiO2 (2,3).
Which of the following represent a special situation where hyperbaric oxygen should be used if available? (click on the correct answer to be directed to the seventh and final page)