A positron emission tomography study of patients with acute carbon monoxide poisoning treated by hyperbaric oxygen.

Seven patients with an acute and severe carbon monoxide intoxication were treated with hyperbaric oxygen and underwent a positron emission tomographic examination 2-5 days after the acute event. Although the final clinical outcome was good in all patients, ischaemic changes were observed. Three patients with temporary sequelae after hyperbaric oxygen treatment showed the most severe changes, mainly in striatum and thalamus. Although positron emission tomographic examination cannot predict the final outcome, it can show the regions at risk for development of late complications following carbon monoxide poisoning.