Which treatment is recommended for carbon monoxide poisoning?

High flow oxygen, or hyperbaric oxygen therapy, is the most effective treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning. The therapeutic principle behind this treatment is to increase the amount of oxygen available to the body and facilitate the elimination of carbon monoxide from the bloodstream. Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin with a much higher affinity than oxygen, which can lead to tissue hypoxia. By administering high flow oxygen, it helps displace carbon monoxide from hemoglobin, allowing oxygen to bind effectively and improving patient oxygenation.

In severe cases, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be utilized, where patients breathe 100% oxygen in a pressurized environment, further optimizing the elimination of carbon monoxide and addressing potential neurological complications more effectively.

Other treatments, such as IV fluids, activated charcoal, and intravenous antibiotics, do not address the fundamental issue of carbon monoxide binding to hemoglobin and are not considered appropriate for this specific type of poisoning. IV fluids might be used for supportive care in a patient experiencing dehydration or shock, but they do not treat the toxicity. Activated charcoal is more applicable for certain types of ingestions and not for gas poisoning, while intravenous antibiotics are irrelevant in treating carbon monoxide exposure, as this poisoning is not caused by an infectious agent.