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CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING DOESN’T BENEFIT FROM HYPERBARIC O2 (HBO)

Clinical Bottom Lines:

 

1. Patients without loss of consciousness do not benefit from 2 hrs of hyperbaric O2 (HBO) at 2 ATA (+4 hrs of 100% normobaric O2 (NBO)) when compared to 6 hrs 100% NBO.

 

2. In patients with loss of consciousness (including coma) at site of rescue, no benefit of 2 sessions of HBO as compared to one session only, both receiving concurrent NBO.

 

3. No controlled trials of HBO vs only NBO, in patients with loss of consciousness

 

File listing: cohybarc.doc Appraiser: S. Sauvé

CAT: therapy Date Appraised: November 11th 1992

 

The Evidence: [1] Randomized unbllinded trial. If no LOC: compared 2 hrs HBO (2 ATA) + 4 hrs 100% NBO to 6 hrs 100% NBO. If LOC: compared 2*2 hrs of HBO + NBO to 1*2 hrs HBO + NBO.

 

Trial, strata, outcome

"control"

"Tx"

ARR

[1] without LOC (n=343)

resumption of former activity

 

97%

 

97%

 

0

persistent symptoms at 1 mth

34%

32%

1.7%

persistent neuro sign at 1 mt

0

0

0

death

0

0

0

[1] with LOC (n=286)

resumption of former activity

 

91%

 

91%

 

0

persistent symptoms at 1 mth

42%

43%

-0.6%

persistent neuro sign at 1 mt

2.4%

3.2%

-0.8%

death

1.6%

1.6%

0

 

Comments:

1. unblinded, but since no seen treatment advantage, likely unimportant

 

2. 11% loss to follow-up in all 4 groups

 

3. COHb level not a predictor of outcome, but coma is.

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REFERENCES:

[1] Raphael JC, Elkharrat D, Jars-Guincestre MC, et al. Trial of normobaric and hyperbaric oxygen for acyte carbon monoxide intoxication. Lancet 1989;Aug 19th:414-419