injuries poisoning
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Pathophysiology of CO Poisoning
The elimination half-life of carbon monoxide (CO) is about 4.5 hours when breathing room air, 1.5 hours with 100% oxygen, and 20 minutes with 3 atmospheres (pressure) of 100% oxygen (as in a Recompression Therapy ). Mechanisms of CO toxicity are not completely understood. They appear to involve Displacement of oxygen from hemoglobin (because CO has greater affinity for hemoglobin than does oxygen) Shifting of the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve to the left (decreasing release of oxygen from hemoglobin to tissues—see figure ) Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration Possibly direct toxic effects on brain tissue 