Intoxication au monoxyde de carbone

Carbon monoxide poisoning remains the first cause of mortality and morbidity due to accidental poisoning worldwide. In emergency cases, the notion of carbon monoxide exposure should alert the physician while diagnosing. In the absence of exposure history, carbon monoxide poisoning must be considered when two or more patients from the same place present with similar symptomatology. In such situations, medical history, clinical examination, and carboxyhaemoglobin measurement may be useful for the diagnosis. In case of uncertainty, normobaric oxygen therapy should be initiated empirically while results are pending. If carbon monoxide poisoning is confirmed, the source must be absolutely identified and the health authorities should be informed. In the most severe clinical forms, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may have a role in the prevention and reduction of the incidence of a potential neurological sequel.