What is CO poisoning?

One of the most frequent causes of death (immediate), colorless, odorless, with 200 x O2 affinity to Hb, shifts curve to left causing hypoxia Screened by aretrial or venous blood measure (CO-oxumetry) but not pulse oximetry (cannot diff O2 from CO) Tx: Incubate, high flow O2, hyperbaric O2 for CO>25%, loss of conscious, severe metabolic acidosis, and concern of organ ischemia Each level of CO in blood increases symptoms and death occurs from 60-100% CO