Relationship between venous and arterial carboxyhemoglobin levels in patients with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.
Ann Emerg Med 1995;
25:481-3. [PMID:
7710152 DOI:
10.1016/s0196-0644(95)70262-8]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that venous carboxyhemoglobin (V-COHb) levels accurately predict arterial (A-COHb) levels.
DESIGN
Prospective comparison of A-COHb and V-COHb levels in patients with suspected carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
SETTING
Municipal hospital emergency department with contiguous multiplace hyperbaric chamber staffed 24 hours a day.
PARTICIPANTS
Unselected convenience sample of 61 adults with suspected CO toxicity.
INTERVENTION
Simultaneous sampling of arterial and venous blood.
RESULTS
Correlation between V-COHb and A-COHb showed an r value of .99 (95%CI, .99 to .99), and an r2 value of .98. Agreement between V-COHb and A-COHb levels was examined by use of a plot of arteriovenous differences against the mean of the two measurements. The mean arteriovenous difference was .15% COHb (95%CI, .13% to .45%), with 95% of the differences ranging from 2.4% COHb to -2.1% COHb.
CONCLUSION
Venous COHb levels predict arterial levels with a high degree of accuracy. Patients with suspected CO poisoning can be screened with the use of venous blood, without the need for arterial puncture.
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