Multiple Victims of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in the Aftermath of a Wildfire: A Case Series

Authors

  • Luís Ramos dos Santos Internal Medicine Department. Hospital dos Marmeleiros, SESARAM. Funchal.
  • Magna Alves-Correia Internal Medicine Department. Hospital dos Marmeleiros, SESARAM. Funchal.
  • Margarida Câmara Intensive Care Department. Hospital Central do Funchal, SESARAM. Funchal. Hyperbaric Medicine Unit. Hospital Central do Funchal, SESARAM. Funchal.
  • Manuela Lélis Internal Medicine Department. Hospital dos Marmeleiros, SESARAM. Funchal.
  • Carmo Caldeira Hyperbaric Medicine Unit. Hospital Central do Funchal, SESARAM. Funchal. General Surgery Department. Hospital Central do Funchal, SESARAM. Funchal. Emergency Department. Hospital Central do Funchal, SESARAM. Funchal.
  • Maria da Luz Brazão Internal Medicine Department. Hospital dos Marmeleiros, SESARAM. Funchal.
  • José Júlio Nóbrega Intensive Care Department. Hospital Central do Funchal, SESARAM. Funchal. Hyperbaric Medicine Unit. Hospital Central do Funchal, SESARAM. Funchal.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.9811

Keywords:

Brain Diseases, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Hyperbaric Oxygenation, Hypoxia, Brain, Portugal, Wildfires

Abstract

Introduction: Carbon monoxide poisoning may occur in several contexts.
Material and Methods: Retrospective of 37 carbon monoxide poisoning cases that underwent hyperbaric oxygen during wildfires in Funchal in August 2016.
Results: The studied sample included 37 patients, mean age of 38 years, 78% males. Ten were firefighters, four children and two pregnant victims. Neurological symptoms were the most reported. Median carboxyhemoglobin level was 3.7% (IQR 2.7). All received high-flow oxygen from admission to delivery of hyperbaric oxygen. Persistence of symptoms was the main indication for hyperbaric oxygen. Median time to hyperbaric oxygen was 4.8 hours (IQR 9.5), at 2.5 ATA for 90 minutes, without major complications. Discharge in less than 24 hours occurred in 92% of the cases. Thirty days follow-up: five patients presented clinical symptoms of late neurological syndrome; twelve patients were lost to follow-up. Carboxyhemoglobin levels on admission and mean time to hyperbaric oxygen were no different between those who did and did not develop the syndrome at 30 days (p = 0.44 and p = 0.58, respectively).
Discussion: Late neurological syndrome at 30 days occurred in 20% and no new cases were reported at 12 months.
Conclusion: Use of hyperbaric oxygen appears to have reduced the incidence of the syndrome. This seems to be the first Portuguese series reporting use of hyperbaric oxygen in carbon monoxide poisoning due to wildfires. The authors intend to alert to the importance of referral of these patients because the indications and benefits of this treatment are well documented. This is especially important given the ever-growing issue of wildfires in Portugal.

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Published

2018-03-29

How to Cite

1.
Santos LR dos, Alves-Correia M, Câmara M, Lélis M, Caldeira C, Brazão M da L, Nóbrega JJ. Multiple Victims of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in the Aftermath of a Wildfire: A Case Series. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2018 Mar. 29 [cited 2024 Nov. 4];31(3):146-51. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/9811

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Original