Citation

Kouimtsidis C. Crisis 2002; 23(2): 74-76.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry of Addictive Behaviour and Psychological Medicine, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK. depad@sghms.ac.uk

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, International Association for Suicide Prevention, Publisher Hogrefe Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12500892

Abstract

Since the changeover in the gas used in domestic appliances, the prevalence of acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning has been dramatically reduced. In suicide attempts with car exhaust fumes lies the most common cause of the disorder. As a consequence, patients are more complex to manage as they often have other associated diagnoses such as substance use disorder, depressive disorder, or long-standing personality disorder. This report details such a case. The medical treatment was based on the carboxyhemoglobin (COHgb) levels at the time of admission. The patient developed permanent cognitive and functional deficits consistent with the observed brain scan changes. The author discusses the importance of an appropriate early diagnosis of the condition, the difficulties associated with it, and the validity of using the carboxyhemoglobin levels as a guide to treatment.

Language: en