Noninvasive measurement of carbon monoxide levels in ED patients with headache.
Publication/Presentation Date
9-1-2006
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Carbon Monoxide (CO), the third most common cause of acute poisoning death, is easily overlooked in the emergency department (ED). Nonspecific complaints such as headache, weakness, or malaise may easily result in misdiagnosis. The objectives of this study are to determine the frequency of CO poisoning in patients presenting to the ED complaining of headaches and to determine the feasibility of using noninvasive CO analyzers as a screening tool.
METHODS: This prospective controlled study examined, during the winter months, adult patients presenting with a complaint of atraumatic, afebrile headaches. All subjects submitted a sample for a CO breath analyzer. Participants with elevated carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels (nonsmokers >2%, smokers >5%) underwent venous COHb testing. Control patients, without headaches, presenting to the ED were similarly studied.
RESULTS: We enrolled 170 subjects and 98 controls. Of the 170 subjects, 12 (7.1%) had elevated COHb levels confirmed by venous COHb levels. Of the 98 controls, 1 (1.0%) had an elevated COHb level (p < 0.05). There were no differences in demographic factors between the two groups (p > 0.16).
CONCLUSIONS: Noninvasive measurement of CO levels in ED patients with headaches is rapid and specific. During winter months, elevated CO levels are present in over 7% of ED patients with headaches.
Volume
2
Issue
3
First Page
89
Last Page
92
ISSN
1556-9039
Published In/Presented At
Eberhardt, M., Powell, A., Bonfante, G., Rupp, V., Guarnaccia, J. R., Heller, M., & Reed, J. (2006). Noninvasive measurement of carbon monoxide levels in ED patients with headache. Journal of medical toxicology : official journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology, 2(3), 89–92. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03161015
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
18072124
Department(s)
Department of Emergency Medicine
Document Type
Article