Author/Editor		Jamšek, M; Možina, M
Title		Avtomobilski izpušni plini in zastrupitve z ogljikovim monoksidom
Translated title		Exhaust gases and carbon monokside poisoning
Type		članek
Source		Med Razgl
Vol. and No.		Letnik 32, št. Suppl 4
Publication year		1993
Volume		str. 181-5
Language		slo
Abstract		206 patients (152 male, 54 female, the average age 38.5 +-18 years) with carbon monoxide poisoning were treated during the period from 1974 to 1990. 132 poisonings (64 percent) were suicidal, in 12 cases (6 percent) the reason was unknown. Accidental poisonings took place most often in apartments (72 patients), while suicidal poisonings occured mostly in garage (49 patients) and less frequently in apartments (10 patients). In 78 patients the exhaust gases were the cause of poioning, among them were 13 patients participated in traffic; 8 of them were poisoned accidentally during the warming up the car at the parking place, 3 were poisoned while driving the car, and in 2 cases the poisoning was due to suicidal attempt with exhaust gases while parking along the road. When symptoms like headache, dizziness, vertigo, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, thoracic oppression, sight disturbances or even unconsciousness occurs in traffic participants, CO poisoning should be considered too, when other cases are excluded. As CO poisoning can be important reason of the road accident, toxicological analysis for ethanol and CO should be performed in all not so clear circumstances. Unfortunately, CO poisoning is suspected rarely or too late to prove the presence of poison in the blood.
Descriptors		CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING VEHICLE EMISSIONS ADULT MIDDLE AGE SUICIDE ACCIDENTS