Are arterial blood gases of value in treatment decisions for carbon monoxide poisoning?

Traditionally, the carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) level has been used to estimate the severity of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Through extensive clinical experience, we have found this to be an inaccurate correlation; thus, other variables such as pHa or psychometric abnormalities have been assessed to determine severity from CO poisoning. In a 5-yr experience with 247 patients, on admission 114 had an arterial blood gas and HbCO determinations, and 88 also had psychometric testing. The data were evaluated to determine any relationship between pH and HbCO level; a weak correlation (r approximately equal to -0.3) was discovered. A comparison of psychometric testing with HbCO level showed a much stronger statistical relationship. The definition of HbCO poisoning severity may be better determined by psychometric testing than by the HbCO level because psychometric testing measures actual neurologic disability. The weak correlation between both psychometric testing and the HbCO level with pHa reinforces the clinical impression that patients with acidosis, alkalosis, or normal blood gases could have equally severe neurologic symptomatology at HbCO levels ranging from 1% to 62%.