Case of the Month #34 Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Published 01/12/2022

What are the possible differential diagnoses of reduced GCS in this patient?

  1. Intoxication; drugs, alcohol, intentional overdose  

  1. Head injury or another intracranial event 

  1. Seizures 

  1. Hypercapnia  

  1. Methaemoglobinaemia  

Given his presentation, this gentleman was diagnosed as having Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning. Multiple factors pointed towards this diagnosis including raised carboxyhemoglobin and soot located within the airways. Paramedic colleagues noted that the patient was found within a small room filled with smoke.