Utility of High Flow Nasal Cannula in CO Toxicity

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is common and potentially fatal environmental emergency which requires immediate attention. It is responsible for up to 40,000 emergency department (ED) visits and 5000 to 6000 deaths per year, making it one of the leading causes of poisoning death in the United States. The management options for CO poisoning are limited to high flow oxygen by face mask or hyperbaric oxygen treatment. While half-life of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) in a patient treating with high flow oxygen via a nonbreathing face mask is 90 minutes, it becomes 30 minutes with hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBO). The hypothesis of this study is using high flow nasal oxygen therapy in the CO poisoning may be more effective and safer treatment method comparing to standard oxygen therapy in the ED. Also, it may be a safe promising alternative of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The aim of the study is to determine the half-life of COHb in CO-poisoned patients with high flow nasal oxygen therapy in the ED.