Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in the Unusual Circumstance: Four Cases Report.
- Author:
Joong Seok SEO
1
Author Information
1. Department of Forensic Medicine, National Institute of Scientific Investigation, Korea.
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Carbon monoxide poisoning;
Unusual or atypical circumstances
- MeSH:
Asphyxia;
Carbon Dioxide;
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning*;
Carbon Monoxide*;
Carbon*;
Diagnosis;
Forensic Sciences;
Lung;
Oxygen;
Poisoning
- From:Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
2000;24(1):68-74
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Carbon monoxide which is an odorless, colorless, non-irritating gas causes asphyxia by blocking the hemoglobin of the RBC from carrying oxygen to the tissues and from returning carbon dioxide to the lungs. The clinical symptoms of CO poisoning depend on the blood CO saturation level and in a healthy middle-aged individual a blood CO saturation greater than 50% is considered fatal. In forensic science, the investigation of the scene in cases of CO poisoning is imperative to determine the manner of death or the source of CO production, while postmortem diagnosis of CO poisoning is not difficult. The author reported four cases of CO poisoning in the unusual or atypical circumstances, which were not recognized in the scene.
