The effect of acute carbon monoxide poisoning on the respiratory system efficiency. I. Values of spirometric parameters in different degrees of poisoning.

The examination of 91 patients, performed as soon as possible after CO poisoning, revealed that the values of ventilatory parameters obtained from the flow-volume loop recorded by a computer-aided spirometer were significantly lower then those after treatment. Ventilatory efficiency closely related with the degree of poisoning, was assessed according to age, COHb concentration, blood lactate level, and neurological symptoms. Ventilatory parameters in 48 persons with medium and acute poisoning were significantly lower than in the group of slightly poisoned patients. The strong relationship between the major spirometric parameters, blood lactate level and duration of exposure to carbon monoxide was noted. However, the correlation between ventilatory parameters and the degree of poisoning taken as a total of all mentioned parameters was strongest.