Study of Carbon Monoxide Intoxication in Fire Victimis

2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (12) ◽  
pp. 2932-2935
Author(s):  
Sofia David ◽  
Anton Knieling ◽  
Calin Scripcaru ◽  
Madalina Diac ◽  
Ion Sandu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ◽  
Inverse Correlation ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Carbon Monoxide Intoxication ◽  
Gas Poisoning ◽  
The World ◽  
Fire Victims ◽  
In Fire

Carbon monoxide poisoning is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity of toxic origin in the world. Its insidious and polymorphic symptomatology makes it difficult to diagnose. It occurs accidentally, because of non-supervised domestic fires, or in fire victims. In fire victims, in particular, the differential diagnosis between carbon monoxide gas poisoning, inhalation of other toxic products of combustion like cyanide, oxygen deprivation, thermal burns and shock due to burns as a cause of death is not an easy task. The authors examined 107 fire victims that were autopsied at the Forensic Medicine from Iasi, Romania, in the last 10 years (2007-2016). Most cases were males (69.16%), young (0-9 years) or older than 60 with a burned surface of 91-100% in 68.22% of cases. Blood samples from the cadavers were collected in all cases in order to analyse carboxyhaemoglobin concentration and haemolysis. Toxicological analysis revealed a carboxyhaemoglobin level of maximum 95% but the majority of cases (70.72%) had a concentration inferior to 50%. An inverse correlation was identified between carboxyhaemoglobin concentration and haemolysis, an indicator of heat dissociation. Our study proves that many fire victims may die because of carbon monoxide intoxication prior to the extent of burns at a lethal potential.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Fire Victims

1980 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
KINGMAN P. STROHL ◽  
NEIL T. FELDMAN ◽  
NICHOLAS A. SAUNDERS ◽  
NICHOLAS OʼCONNOR
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ◽  
Fire Victims ◽  
In Fire

Review : Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Fire Victims

1994 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Locatelli ◽  
Stefano M. Candura ◽  
Donatella Maccarini ◽  
Raffaella Butera ◽  
Luigi Manzo
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ◽  
Fire Victims ◽  
In Fire

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Fire Victims

1980 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
KINGMAN P. STROHL ◽  
NEIL T. FELDMAN ◽  
NICHOLAS A. SAUNDERS ◽  
NICHOLAS OʼCONNOR
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ◽  
Fire Victims ◽  
In Fire

Cyanide: critical issues in diagnosis and treatment

2007 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 191-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
F J Baud
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Situation ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Cyanide Poisoning ◽  
Rescue Workers ◽  
Fire Victims ◽  
In Fire

The concern of a terrorist attack using cyanide, as well as the gradual awareness of cyanide poisoning in fire victims, has resulted in a renewed interest in the diagnosis and treatment of cyanide poisoning. The formerly academic presentation of cyanide poisoning must be replaced by more useful knowledge, which will allow emergency physicians and rescue workers to strongly suspect cyanide poisoning at the scene. Human cyanide poisonings may result from exposure to cyanide, its salts, or cyanogenic compounds, while residential fires are the most common condition of exposure. In fire victims, recognition of the cyanide toxidrome has been hampered by the short half-life in blood and poor stability of cyanide. In contrast, carboxyhemoglobin, as a marker of carbon monoxide poisoning, is easily measured and long-lasting. No evidence supports the assumption of the arbitrary fixed lethal thresholds of 50% for carboxyhemoglobin, and 3 mg/L for cyanide, in fire victims. Preliminary data, drawn when comparing pure carbon monoxide and pure cyanide poisonings, suggest that a cyanide toxidrome can be defined considering signs and symptoms induced by cyanide and carbon monoxide, respectively. Prospective studies in fire victims may provide value in clarifying signs and symptoms related to both toxicants. Cyanide can induce a lifethreatening poisoning from which a full recovery is possible. A number of experimentally efficient antidotes to cyanide exist, whose clinical use has been hampered due to serious side effects. The availability of potentially safer antidotes unveils the possibility of their value as first-line treatment, even in a complex clinical situation, where diagnosis is rapid and presumptive.

SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING IN FIRE VICTIMS

1972 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 641-645 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. ZIKRIA ◽  
G. C. WESTON ◽  
M. CHODOFF ◽  
J. M. FERRER
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ◽  
Fire Victims ◽  
In Fire

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Fire Victims

1994 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-21
Author(s):  
Carol Locarelli ◽  
Stefano M. Candura ◽  
Donatella Maccarini ◽  
Raffaella Butera ◽  
Luigi Manzo
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ◽  
Fire Victims ◽  
In Fire

scholarly journals Urgent cesarean section in a pregnant woman with carbon monoxide poisoning

2014 ◽  
Vol 155 (22) ◽  
pp. 871-875
Author(s):  
Edit Gara ◽  
Éva Gesztes ◽  
Richárd Doroszlai ◽  
Gábor Zacher
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Pregnant Woman ◽  
Cesarean Section ◽  
Oxygen Therapy ◽  
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Heating Systems ◽  
Carbon Monoxide Intoxication ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Physical Chemical

Recognition of carbon monoxide is difficult due to its plain physical-chemical properties. Carbon and gas operating heating systems may cause severe poisoning. Carbon-monoxide intoxication may generate severe hypoxic damage and it may cause death. The authors present the case of severe carbon monoxide poisoning affecting one young child and five adults, including a pregnant woman. Because the availability of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is limited in Hungary, urgent cesarean section was performed to avoid intrauterine hypoxic damage. The authors note that there are no standardized non-invasive methods for measuring fetal carbon-monoxide level and that the level of carbon monoxide accumulation is higher and the clearance is longer in the fetus than in the mother. The pathophysiology of carbon monoxide intoxication and therapeutic options in pregnancy are discussed. Orv. Hetil., 2014, 155(22), 871–875.

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