Carbon monoxide poisoning: Role of brain diagnostic imaging [computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging]

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted on thirty patients diagnosed as acute carbon monoxide [CO] poisoning who were admitted to Alexandria Poison Center, Alexandria, Egypt. They represented 4.4% of the total admission [n=9196] to the center during the year 2000. Their carboxyhemoglobin percentage [COHb%] level ranged from 15-42% with a mean of 27.38 +/- 7.73%. This level was significantly increased with deterioration of the level of consciousness, while insignificant relation was found between COHb% level and various clinical presentations, blood gases and acid-base status. Computerized tomography [CT] brain scan was done to all patients and revealed the following Norma CT scan in 70.0% of patients, 26.7% had brain edema and one patient [3.3%] had internal capsular infarction, which delineated by magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] as bilateral lesions in the internal capsule and cerebellar peduncles. The vast majority of patients [96.7%] recovered completely, only one patient developed permanent sequelae manifested by paraparesis, dysarthria, and incoordination of movement