Catalytic converter theft: An emerging risk factor for carbon monoxide poisoning
Background: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis can be challenging for the encountering physician due to vague and nonspecific presenting signs and symptoms. Confirmatory testing is typically prompted by historical information identifying a key e...
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Elsevier
2024-03-01
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| Series: | JEM Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773232024000063 |
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| author | Ahna H. Weeks Suzan Mazor Anita A. Thomas |
| author_facet | Ahna H. Weeks Suzan Mazor Anita A. Thomas |
| author_sort | Ahna H. Weeks |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis can be challenging for the encountering physician due to vague and nonspecific presenting signs and symptoms. Confirmatory testing is typically prompted by historical information identifying a key exposure or risk factor. Case report: A patient presented to the emergency department after having a seizure. The patient was diagnosed with CO poisoning, with a carboxyhemoglobin level of >20.9 %, caused by unintentional exposure to motor vehicle exhaust while idling in his car after his catalytic converter was stolen. The patient was transferred to a hospital with the capacity for treatment with hyperbaric oxygen.Why should an emergency physician be aware of this? Increasing prevalence of catalytic converter theft puts people at risk for CO poisoning. Emergency physicians should consider CO poisoning broadly, especially in urban environments with high rates of petty crime. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a92bfaa5f0554b6cb971d5daa144cbc3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2773-2320 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JEM Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-a92bfaa5f0554b6cb971d5daa144cbc32024-11-22T07:40:28ZengElsevierJEM Reports2773-23202024-03-0131100076Catalytic converter theft: An emerging risk factor for carbon monoxide poisoningAhna H. Weeks0Suzan Mazor1Anita A. Thomas2University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA; Corresponding author. University of Washington, Department of Emergency Medicine, 325 9th Ave, Box 359702, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA.Seattle Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USASeattle Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USABackground: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis can be challenging for the encountering physician due to vague and nonspecific presenting signs and symptoms. Confirmatory testing is typically prompted by historical information identifying a key exposure or risk factor. Case report: A patient presented to the emergency department after having a seizure. The patient was diagnosed with CO poisoning, with a carboxyhemoglobin level of >20.9 %, caused by unintentional exposure to motor vehicle exhaust while idling in his car after his catalytic converter was stolen. The patient was transferred to a hospital with the capacity for treatment with hyperbaric oxygen.Why should an emergency physician be aware of this? Increasing prevalence of catalytic converter theft puts people at risk for CO poisoning. Emergency physicians should consider CO poisoning broadly, especially in urban environments with high rates of petty crime.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773232024000063Carbon monoxideSeizureSyncopeCatalytic converterHyperbaric oxygen |
| spellingShingle | Ahna H. Weeks Suzan Mazor Anita A. Thomas Catalytic converter theft: An emerging risk factor for carbon monoxide poisoning JEM Reports Carbon monoxide Seizure Syncope Catalytic converter Hyperbaric oxygen |
| title | Catalytic converter theft: An emerging risk factor for carbon monoxide poisoning |
| title_full | Catalytic converter theft: An emerging risk factor for carbon monoxide poisoning |
| title_fullStr | Catalytic converter theft: An emerging risk factor for carbon monoxide poisoning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Catalytic converter theft: An emerging risk factor for carbon monoxide poisoning |
| title_short | Catalytic converter theft: An emerging risk factor for carbon monoxide poisoning |
| title_sort | catalytic converter theft an emerging risk factor for carbon monoxide poisoning |
| topic | Carbon monoxide Seizure Syncope Catalytic converter Hyperbaric oxygen |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773232024000063 |
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