Case report of carbon monoxide poisoning in a pregnant patient: mother died, baby survived

Carbon monoxide poisoning in pregnant women is a relatively rare condition. We report a 32-year-old woman in her 32nd week of pregnancy found unconscious in the bathroom. On arrival, her pulse and blood pressure were undetectable. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was applied. The mother's carboxyhaemoglobin level was 57%. Due to foetal distress, Caesarean section was performed in the emergency department. The baby was intubated due to the absence of spontaneous respiration. The level of carboxyhaemoglobin in the cord blood was 32%. After staying in the newborn unit for 47 days, the baby was discharged with a sequela of cerebral palsy. (Hong Kong j.emerg. med. 2009;16:176-178)