Comparison of the effects of hyperbaric and normobaric oxygen treatments on the repolarisation parameters of electrocardiography in children with carbon monoxide poisoning

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) induced hyper-oxygenation and normobaric oxygen therapy (NBOT) on myocardial repolarisation parameters in children with carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 77 girls and boys aged 0-18 years who were diagnosed and treated for CO poisoning. There were no changes in the routine clinical evaluation and treatment practices of patients. Patients who received NBOT (n=40) and HBOT (n=37) were divided into two groups. These groups were compared in terms of their demographic characteristics, carboxyhaemoglobin, lactate, troponin levels and myocardial repolarisation parameters of electrocardiography (ECG) (Tp-e interval, Tp-e dispersion, QTc and Tp-e/QTc ratio). Results: There were no significant intergroup differences in terms of carboxyhaemoglobin, lactate and troponin levels at the time of admission; admission and posttreatment Tp-e, Tp-e dispersion, corrected QTc and TPe/QTc ratio and post-treatment change rates of each ECG parameter. Conclusion: There was no intergroup difference in terms of repolarisation parameters of ECG in children with CO poisoning. The possible reason for this may be myocardial reperfusion damage due to hyper-oxygenation associated with HBOT therapy.