Your patient is a 16-year-old male who attempted suicide. He is unconscious and apneic, lying supine on a garage floor. The family states they found the patient unconscious in the front seat of a car that was running in an enclosed garage. HR = 70, BP = 100/60, RR = 0. In addition to an IV of normal saline, which of the following is the most appropriate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient has attempted suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning, and immediate treatment is necessary as carbon monoxide has a higher affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen which can result in cellular hypoxia. The first step is to remove the patient from the enclosed area and initiate BVM ventilations with 100 percent oxygen. The patient is also apneic, so intubation is necessary to secure the airway and provide assisted ventilations. Transport to a hospital with a hyperbaric chamber is also necessary to further treat carbon monoxide poisoning.

Your Patient Is a 16-Year-Old Male Who Attempted Suicide