Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) poisoning is a great danger to human life. This substance has neither color nor smell, so it is almost impossible to feel its presence in the air. In such cases, it is necessary to provide first aid to the victim as soon as possible and introduce an antidote. In case of carbon monoxide poisoning, the drug "Acyzol" is used as an antidote. How does this tool work? And what other measures need to be taken to save the patient? We will answer these questions in the article.
The effect of carbon monoxide on the body
Carbon monoxide (formula - CO) has a negative impact on many organs and systems. A person can get poisoned by this substance by taking just a few breaths. Let's take a closer look at what happens in the body aftercarbon monoxide inhalation:
- Carbon monoxide reacts chemically with the blood protein - hemoglobin. This produces a substance - carboxyhemoglobin. It creates obstacles to the saturation of tissues and organs with oxygen, which causes hypoxia. This has an extremely negative effect on the neurons of the brain.
- CO interacts with muscle protein - myoglobin. This negatively affects the work of the myocardium. It becomes very difficult for the heart to pump blood and supply oxygen to other organs.
- Carbon monoxide disrupts metabolism and biochemical processes in the body.
Intoxication leads to severe oxygen deficiency. First of all, it affects the functioning of the brain. In severe poisoning, damage to the central nervous system may be irreversible.
Causes of poisoning
A person can be poisoned by carbon monoxide both at home and at work. Toxicologists identify the following causes of poisoning:
- Inhalation of gaseous substances formed during combustion. Carbon monoxide is one of the products of combustion. Quite often, people get intoxicated during fires or staying in a smoky room.
- Gas leak. Carbon monoxide is used in chemical plants as a raw material and reagent. If safety rules are violated, workers may be poisoned by this substance.
- Inhaling car exhaust. A fairly large amount of carbon monoxide is contained in the exhaust gases. If the car engine is running in a closed and unventilated space, then a person can very quickly get severe poisoning.
- Incorrect operation of heating stoves. The use of faulty furnace equipment is becoming a fairly common cause of poisoning. The untimely closing of the damper in the furnace also leads to the accumulation of CO.
ICD code
The International Classification of Diseases considers this intoxication as exposure to a non-medical poisonous substance. Such pathologies are designated by codes T51 - T65. The full code for carbon monoxide poisoning according to ICD-10 is T58.
Degrees and symptoms of intoxication
Doctors distinguish several degrees of carbon monoxide poisoning:
- easy;
- medium;
- heavy.
The severity of intoxication depends on the concentration in the blood of the product of binding carbon monoxide to blood proteins - carboxyhemoglobin. The higher the indicator of this substance, the more pronounced the signs of poisoning.
With a mild degree of intoxication, the content of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood of the victim does not exceed 30%. The patient is conscious, but his condition is noticeably deteriorating. Mild poisoning is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- compressive headaches;
- nausea and vomiting;
- tinnitus;
- increased lacrimation;
- runny nose;
- cough without phlegm;
- sore throat.
Since carbon monoxide is odorless, the victim does not always associate this symptomatology with poisoning. Often, patients mistake the symptoms of intoxication for manifestations of a respiratory disease.
With moderate poisoning, the level of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood plasma is from 30 to 40%. The resulting hypoxia adversely affects the state of the cells of the central nervous system. A person either loses consciousness for a short period of time, or becomes excessively drowsy, depressed, poorly responsive to stimuli. Moderate intoxication is also characterized by the following symptoms:
- severely short of breath;
- dilated pupils;
- heartache;
- palpitations;
- redness of the skin and eyes;
- impaired hearing and vision;
- convulsions;
- mental disorders.
Severe intoxication occurs when the level of carboxyhemoglobin rises to 40 - 50%. Due to severe oxygen starvation, the patient falls into a coma. A dangerous degree of poisoning is accompanied by the following manifestations:
- blue skin;
- shallow breathing;
- weak pulse;
- convulsions;
- involuntary passage of urine and feces.
If the content of CO in the environment exceeds 1.2%, then a person develops a lightning-fast form of poisoning. The level of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood increases to 75%. In this casethe victim dies from severe hypoxia within 3-4 minutes.
Complications
The risk of complications directly depends on the severity of intoxication. Often, negative consequences occur even in cases where the victim was given timely assistance and an antidote was introduced. Carbon monoxide poisoning can affect the victim's body for a long time after recovery. The healing process is often very slow.
If the patient has had a mild or moderate poisoning, then after the detoxification, the following symptoms may persist:
- Frequent headaches. This is a consequence of the transferred hypoxia. The pain syndrome may increase with changes in weather and atmospheric pressure.
- Emotional lability. After recovery, patients often complain of frequent mood swings, irritability, tearfulness.
- Cognitive deterioration. It becomes difficult for the patient to absorb and remember new information.
- Visual disorders. After recovery, visual acuity may decrease. Often, patients complain of flashing black small dots before their eyes.
Severe intoxication can have serious long-term consequences. Damage to the heart muscle increases the risk of myocardial infarction. After suffering hypoxia, small hemorrhages often remain in the brain tissues, which cause neurological disorders. In addition, inhalation of CO negatively affects the condition of the lung tissue, and after recovery,pneumonia.
Help until doctors arrive
If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, an ambulance must be called immediately. It is impossible to carry out a complete detox at home. However, before the arrival of doctors, the victim must be given first aid. This will help reduce some of the harmful effects of CO on the body.
It is necessary to adhere to the following algorithm for providing first aid for carbon monoxide poisoning:
- When entering the room where the victim is located, you need to hold your breath. You can also cover your nose and mouth with a wet cloth. This will help protect you from inhaling the toxic gas.
- The victim must be taken out of the poison zone as soon as possible.
- If the patient is in the creation, then after the evacuation he should be given a sweet caffeinated drink (sweet tea or coffee). This will help activate the respiratory function and heart activity.
- If the victim has lost consciousness, then he is laid on his side. This will help prevent vomit from entering the respiratory system. Then you need to moisten cotton wool in ammonia and give the patient a sniff.
- If the pulse is not felt and there is no breathing, then it is necessary to carry out resuscitation measures (artificial respiration and chest compressions).
Before the arrival of doctors, you can not leave the victim alone. It is necessary to keep the patient's heartbeat and breathing under constant control.
Medical assistance
Further first aid measures for carbon monoxide poisoning are being takenteam of doctors and paramedics. It is necessary to reduce the harmful effects of CO on the body, conduct antihypoxic therapy, and restore normal breathing and heart function. The algorithm for providing emergency medical care is as follows:
- As an antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning, it is necessary to introduce the drug "Acyzol". This remedy helps to cleanse the body of toxin and reduce the formation of carboxyhemoglobin.
- If the patient is conscious, he is shown inhalation of oxygen. O2 is supplied using a special cylinder or oxygen bag. Oxygen therapy helps to reduce hypoxia and reduce the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood.
- If the victim has no pulse and breathing, then they give an injection of adrenaline. This hormone helps to activate cardiovascular activity. Only then can further resuscitation be carried out.
- Then start artificial lung ventilation (ALV) using a reusable Ambu bag (adult or child). This is a special device for manual resuscitation. Air is delivered directly into the patient's lungs through a tube or mask by rhythmically pressing the air reservoir.
- If, after the above measures, the patient's heart function has not recovered, then a precordial stroke is performed. From a height of about 20 cm, the doctor strikes the victim's chest with his fist. This exercise is contraindicated if the patient is still breathing and has a carotid pulse.
- If the precordial stroke did not lead todesired result, then a defibrillator is used to restore the work of the heart.
After providing first aid, the doctor decides whether the patient needs to be hospitalized.
Description of the antidote
Let's take a closer look at the drug "Acyzol". An antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning is administered intramuscularly in an amount of 1 ml. This medicine reduces the binding of hemoglobin to carbon monoxide. As a result, the formation of toxic carboxyhemoglobin is suppressed. This reduces hypoxia and alleviates the patient's condition. In addition, the drug contributes to the speedy removal of toxic substances from the body.
The instructions for the use of "Acyzol" indicate that the antidote after poisoning must be administered as soon as possible. This will help to avoid an increase in the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood and the development of severe intoxication.
There are no serious contraindications to the use of an antidote. In case of CO poisoning, the drug is administered in any case, since we are talking about saving the patient's life.
The price of "Acyzol" in the form of a solution ranges from 800 to 1100 rubles (for 10 ampoules). This form of medicine is used in the treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The drug is also available in the form of capsules. This form of antidote is used primarily for the prevention of poisoning. One antidote capsule is recommended for firefighters and rescuers to take 30 minutes before entering a carbon monoxide exposure area. The protective effect of the drug lasts about 2 hours. The price of "Acyzol" in encapsulated form is from 500 to 600 rubles.
Introduction scheme
1 ml "Acyzol" is administered immediately after the patient is evacuated from the lesion. After 1 hour, the injection is repeated at the same dosage.
It is important to remember that an injection of adrenaline is allowed only after the introduction of an antidote. After all, before activating the work of the heart, it is necessary to neutralize toxins and stop the production of carboxyhemoglobin. Therefore, the provision of medical care should always begin with the introduction of an antidote.
In case of carbon monoxide poisoning, the antidote continues to be administered during hospital treatment. The full course of intoxication therapy takes about 7 - 12 days.
When is hospitalization needed?
If a person is poisoned by carbon monoxide, then home treatment is possible only with a mild degree of intoxication. In most cases, the patient has to be placed in the toxicology department of the hospital. Indications for hospitalization are as follows:
- loss of consciousness (even momentary);
- mental disorders due to poisoning;
- discoordination of movements;
- drop in body temperature below normal;
- short-term cessation of the heart and breathing.
Children, pregnant women and patients with cardiovascular pathologies are required to be hospitalized.
After being discharged from the hospital, the patient needs to stay underunder the supervision of a doctor and undergo all necessary examinations. This will help to identify possible complications of intoxication in time.
Prevention of poisoning
How to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning? To do this, the following safety rules must be observed:
- Do not run the car engine in an enclosed, unventilated area.
- Monitor the serviceability of gas and furnace equipment.
- Ensure the correct position of the stove damper during space heating.
- Observe safety precautions when working with carbon monoxide in the workplace.
- It is useful to keep a special sensor (gas analyzer) at home that shows the concentration of CO in the air.
These simple measures will help to avoid dangerous poisoning.
