BACKGROUND Carbon monoxide (CO) has been detected within anaesthesia breathing systems. One potential source in this setting is exhaled endogenous CO. We hypothesized that CO is re-breathed during low-flow anaesthesia (LFA) in infants and children. METHODS Twenty children (age 2 months-7 yr) undergoing general anaesthesia were evaluated in a prospective observation study. LFA was established ...

With the inhalation of smoke, there are both cardiopulmonary changes and elevated levels of carbon monoxide (CO). We hypothesize that these changes in cardiopulmonary function are the result of a histotoxic hypoxia associated with CO poisoning. This hypothesis was tested in chronically instrumented sheep (n= 19). Piezoelectric crystals were attached to the left ventricle for the measurement of ...

We describe spectrophotometric determination of methemoglobin (Met-Hb) in blood by absorbance differences at two wavelengths (characteristic of the instrument used) in the 500-600 nm region. Blood is diluted 100- to 200-fold with a solution containing KCN and carbon monoxide to convert hemoglobin to carboxyhemoglobin and Met-Hb to cyanomethemoglobin (CN-Met-Hb). Carboxyhemoglobin has the same a...

In this procedure hemoglobin is converted to its reduced form and the magnitude of the zero-order spectral shift of the reduced hemoglobin peak at 430 nm to the carboxyhemoglobin peak at 418 nm is determined by second-derivative spectrum analysis. The method is simple, straightforward to set up, and rapid. A result may be obtained within 15 min of receiving the sample. It is sufficiently sensit...

Differential diagnosis of primary headache disorders can be challenging for physicians. Although the association of headache with acute carbon monoxide intoxication is very well-defined, in refractory nonspecific headaches associated with chronic low dose exposure to carbon monoxide, CO intoxication is usually overlooked, mostly due to vague symptoms. Herein we present a 15-year-old female pati...

Abstract Background Carbon monoxide causes electrical, functional, and morphological changes in the heart. It is unclear, however, whether indicators of myocardial damage can predict patient’s prognosis after carbon poisoning. This retrospective study aimed to investigate relationship between carboxyhemoglobin level electrocardiographic (ECG) ECG troponin I levels are related Methods Carboxyhem...

INTRODUCTION Carbon monoxide poisoning (COP) is one of the leading causes of death from poisoning worldwide. There is no published study of COP in Singapore so far. MATERIALS AND METHODS All patients admitted with the diagnosis of COP to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) over 5 years from 1999 to 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. The diagnosis was based on a history of potential exposure to car...

We have compared estimation of alveolar carbon monoxide measured either as end-expired or mixed-expired carbon monoxide tension with two spectrophotometric estimations of venous blood carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb). Estimation of mixed-expired carbon monoxide proved more convenient for patients than the end-expired method, and this estimation of carbon monoxide exposure discriminated between non-smo...