[Assessment of damage to the child in acute CO poisoning in pregnancy].

Diaplacental transition of CO is discussed in two cases of lethal CO intoxication of pregnant women. Foetal CO-Hb has a time lag of several hours against maternal CO-Hb. In highly acute CO intoxications noxious foetal CO intoxication may not occur in spite of high maternal CO concentrations. However, there is a possibility of foetal hypoxia based on maternal hypoxaemia. In cases of subacute CO exposure for several hours, higher CO concentrations may be found in the foetal blood than in the maternal blood. Oxygen therapy of such CO intoxication cases must continue for a certain time after the mother had been detoxicated, because foetal CO elimination lags behind that of the mother. Subacute CO intoxications with sublethal CO-Hb concentrations may cause foetal damage and intra-uterine death as a consequence of CO-Hb, cellular toxic CO-effects and the hypoxia caused by maternal hypoxaemia. Medical decision for interruption of pregnancy as a consequence of foetal indication should be taken after due consideration of the legal problems involved in such action.