A Neuropsychological Screening Battery for emergency assessment of carbon-monoxide-poisoned patients

Abstract

The Carbon Monoxide Neuropsychological Screening Battery (CONSB) was developed to improve the neurological assessment of CO‐poisoned patients in an emergency setting. Traditional assessment methods (clinical examination and carboxyhemoglobin [CoHb] levels) readily can identify unconscious, severely involved patients; however, many CO‐intoxicated patients with cerebral impairment who also require aggressive hyperbaric oxygen therapy are assessed inadequately by such methods. Administration of the CONSB to 66 CO‐poisoned: patients and 66 volunteer controls revealed significant differences in performance between the two groups. It was concluded that the CONSB enhanced the accuracy of the evaluation of cerebrally impaired CO‐poisoned patients. Failure to assess the cerebral functioning of patients exposed to CO and to identify those who require aggressive oxygen therapy could have neurological sequelae.

Neuropsychiatric aspects of carbon monoxide poisoning: diagnosis and management

“…This will also guide appropriate rehabilitation strategies. The Carbon Monoxide Neuropsychological Screen ing Battery (CONSB) was design ed speci fically for patients with CO poisoning (Messier 1991). This battery consists of six domains assess ing general orientation, digit span, trail making, digit symbol, aphasia and block design.…”

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for acute domestic carbon monoxide poisoning: two randomized controlled trials

“…Other remarkable differences between the two studies included different populations (mixed vs. pure CO poisoning), different randomization methods (cluster randomization vs. equal proportion), blinding (double-blind vs. single-blind), and primary outcome measure (complex set of neuropsychological testing vs. self-questionnaire and thorough physical examination). The goal of neuropsychological tests is to detect subclinical abnormalities [13]. We aimed at identifying symptom-free patients.…”

MRI and neuropsychological correlates of carbon monoxide exposure: a case report.

“…However, the majority of case reports have described deficits in memory (8,(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), visuospatial functioning (8,14,16,17,21) and executive system functions (8,16,17), as well as depression (15). Additional neuropsychological findings in case reports of individuals exposed to CO include deficits in abstraction (8,14,19), tactual apprehension of complex stimuli (8), fine manual motor control (8,14), attention (8,15), cognitive processing speed (14,19,20), and psychiatric and behavioral symptoms (14,17,(22)(23)(24).…”