What Researchers Did
Researchers studied 247 patients over five years to see if arterial blood gas levels could help determine the severity of carbon monoxide poisoning, comparing them to carboxyhemoglobin levels and psychometric tests.
What They Found
They found a weak link between arterial blood pH and carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) levels (r approximately equal to -0.3). Psychometric testing, which measures brain function, showed a much stronger statistical relationship with HbCO levels. The study also noted that patients with varying blood pH levels (acidic, alkaline, or normal) could have equally severe brain symptoms, even with HbCO levels ranging widely from 1% to 62%.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients exposed to carbon monoxide, this study suggests that relying solely on carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) levels or arterial blood gas measurements might not fully capture the severity of their poisoning. Instead, assessing brain function through psychometric testing could provide a more accurate picture of their neurological damage, guiding treatment decisions for this serious condition.
Canadian Relevance
This study covers carbon monoxide poisoning, which is a Health Canada-recognized indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The study itself was not conducted in Canada, nor did it involve Canadian authors.
Study Limitations
The study's findings are based on data from 1989, and the number of patients who received psychometric testing was smaller than the total study population.