The Evaluation of Myocardial Damage in 83 Young Adults with Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in the East Anatolia Region in Turkey

Abstract

<jats:p> Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is the leading cause of death from intoxication. In CO poisoning, it is important to know if there are any symptoms regarding myocardial damage, which are usually unobserved as a result of hypoxia. This study was planned to assess myocardial damage in young healthy patients with CO poisoning. Eighty-three young healthy cases who had been exposed to CO were included in this study. The demographic and clinical characteristics, the origin of CO gas and smoking habits of the patients were recorded. The evaluation of ECG, peripheral ABG, complete blood count and serial cardiac biomarkers (creatine kinase, creatine kinasemyocardial band and troponin I) measurements were performed in all cases. Additionally, echocardiogram (ECHO) and myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were performed at the appropriate times in all cases. The mean age of the patients was 27.39 /10.9 years. The main complaint of the patients was loss of consciousness with a 62.7% rate. The average carboxyhaemoglobin level of the patients was 34.49 /15.9%. Sinus tachycardia was present in 26.5% of patients. Diagnostic ischaemic ECG changes were present in 14.4% of patients. In myocardial SPECT, myocardial ischaemic damage was observed in 9 cases, in 6 of whom ECHO findings were also confirmed. Myocar-dial damage due to CO poisoning should not be ignored. If patients are at risk in terms of myocardial damage, further studies, such as ECHO and scintigraphy are needed to determine myocardial damage resulting from CO poisoning. However, in the young adults of the risk group, if the baseline ECG and serial cardiac biomarkers are normal, further studies such as ECHO and scintigraphy, considering the length of exposure and the severity of poisoning, may not be necessary for the evaluation of myocardial damage due to CO poisoning. </jats:p>

Chronic Carbon Monoxide Exposure Increases Electrocardiographic P-wave and QT Dispersion

“…As the most common cause of death from poisoning worldwide, cardiovascular manifestations of acute CO poisoning have been the subject of various studies, but current evidence about the effects of chronic CO exposure on the cardiovascular system is limited (Ernst et al, 1998;Satran et al, 2005;Kalay et al, 2007; Davutoglu et al, 2006;Aslan et al, 2006). As chronic exposure to CO without acute toxicity is common in the environment and in some professions, unveiling this interaction is very important.…”

“…Cardiovascular manifestations of acute CO poisoning include myocardial dysfunction, ischemia, infarction, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest, which have been the subject of various studies (Ernst et al, 1998;Satran et al, 2005;Kalay et al, 2007;Davutoglu et al, 2006;Aslan et al, 2006, Yildirim et al, 2005Wellenius et al, 2006). However, our knowledge about the effects of chronic CO exposure on cardiovascular system is limited.…”

Effects of acute carbon monoxide poisoning on the P-wave and QT interval dispersions

“…Acute CO poisoning includes brain, heart and kidneys (2,6). Acute coronary syndrome, myocardial damage, dysfunction, ischemia, infarction, fibrosis, atrial thrombus, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest are the cardiovascular changes reported in acute CO poisoning (1,3,(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13). Previous reports with small number of patients with acute CO poisoning indicated that in some of the cases; attacks of atrial fibrillation (AF), premature beats, episodes of sinus tachycardia and alterations in ventricular repolarization were observed (14)(15).…”

Combustion and Emission Characteristics of Coconut-Based Biodiesel in a Liquid Fuel Burner

“…These compounds turn soil and lakes acidic and corrode building structures [4]. High concentrations of CO in the atmosphere cause harmful effects to human health by reducing the oxygen levels in the blood vessel delivered to body organs and tissues [5]. Biodiesel is a mono alkyl ester of long fatty acids derived from renewable lipid feed stocks, such as vegetable oil and animal fats, for use in compression ignition diesel engines [6,7].…”