Deniz Turgut, Kandis Hayati, Eroglu Oguz, Gunes Harun, Saygun Meral, Kara Ismail Hamdi
1 Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkey.
2 Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Düzce University, Düzce, Turkey.
Toxicol Ind Health. 2017 Jan;33(1):53-60. doi: 10.1177/0748233716660641. Epub 2016 Aug 19.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless and odourless gas appearing as a result of incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels. Many domestic or occupational poisonings are caused by CO exposure. Malfunctioning heating systems, improperly ventilated motor vehicles, generators, grills, stoves and residential fires may be listed in the common sources of CO exposure. The aim of this study was to emphasize the significance of early diagnosis of CO poisoning with non-invasive measurement of CO levels of the patients with non-specific symptoms using a pulse oximeter device in the triage. Our study was a cross-sectional study. Patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) due to non-specific symptoms and had a Canadian Triage and Acuity scale level of 4 or 5 were included in the study; 106 (5.9%) of 1788 patients admitted during the study period were diagnosed with CO poisoning. Patients with CO poisoning and the other patients had statistically significant differences in terms of presenting symptoms, namely, headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. More CO poisoning cases were admitted in the fall and winter compared to the spring and summer. The number of CO poisoning victims can be decreased if preventive measures like CO monitoring systems and well-designed ventilation systems are generalized at homes and workplaces. Measurement of carboxyhaemoglobin levels of patients presenting to ED due to non-specific symptoms like headache and dizziness during cold seasons and winter months using a pulse CO-oximeter should be a part of the routine of emergency medicine triage.
一氧化碳（CO）是一种无色无味的气体，由含碳燃料不完全燃烧产生。许多家庭或职业中毒事件都是由接触一氧化碳引起的。供暖系统故障、机动车通风不良、发电机、烤架、炉灶以及住宅火灾都可能是常见的一氧化碳接触源。本研究的目的是强调在分诊过程中，使用脉搏血氧仪对有非特异性症状的患者进行无创一氧化碳水平测量，对于早期诊断一氧化碳中毒的重要性。我们的研究是一项横断面研究。因非特异性症状就诊于急诊科（ED）且加拿大分诊与 acuity 量表评分为 4 或 5 级的患者被纳入研究；在研究期间收治的 1788 例患者中，有 106 例（5.9%）被诊断为一氧化碳中毒。一氧化碳中毒患者与其他患者在出现的症状方面，即头痛、头晕、恶心和呕吐，存在统计学显著差异。与春季和夏季相比，秋冬季节收治的一氧化碳中毒病例更多。如果一氧化碳监测系统和设计良好的通风系统等预防措施在家庭和工作场所得到推广，一氧化碳中毒受害者的数量可能会减少。在寒冷季节和冬季，对因头痛和头晕等非特异性症状就诊于急诊科的患者，使用脉搏一氧化碳血氧仪测量碳氧血红蛋白水平应成为急诊医学分诊常规工作的一部分。
