Muscat – Sultan Qaboos University Hospital has recorded a notable medical achievement in the treatment of acute poisoning, following the successful management of a complex case involving an 82-year-old woman suffering from severe carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

The case, treated using hyperbaric oxygen therapy, is the first of its kind to be documented in Oman.

The patient was admitted to the Emergency Department presenting with acute neurological symptoms, including impaired consciousness and difficulty speaking. These signs initially raised suspicion of a stroke. However, advanced diagnostic investigations revealed significantly elevated levels of carboxyhaemoglobin in her blood. This compound forms when carbon monoxide binds with haemoglobin, preventing it from carrying oxygen to vital organs, particularly the brain and heart. The tests confirmed carbon monoxide poisoning, which was later traced to the use of a charcoal heater in a poorly ventilated enclosed space, a press release said.

The medical team at SQU Hospital promptly initiated treatment by administering high-concentration oxygen through conventional methods. While this approach helped reduce the levels of the toxic gas in the patient’s bloodstream, it did not result in a meaningful improvement in her neurological condition.

Given the limited response, the team proceeded with hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an advanced intervention. The patient underwent a single treatment session, during which she inhaled 100% pure oxygen at a pressure equivalent to two and a half times normal atmospheric pressure. This therapeutic environment significantly increased the amount of dissolved oxygen in the blood plasma, allowing oxygen to reach affected tissues directly and accelerating the dissociation of carbon monoxide from haemoglobin.

‘The response was remarkable. Following just one session, the patient showed clear clinical improvement, regaining full consciousness and her ability to communicate, the hospital stated. She was discharged from hospital a few days later in good health, with no neurological or cognitive complications observed during the follow-up period.

‘This case highlights the critical role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an advanced line of defence in severe carbon monoxide poisoning, particularly in cases unresponsive to standard treatment. It also underscores the importance of precise diagnostic assessment when patients present with unexplained neurological symptoms,’ the release added.