Asphyxiation, chemical

Disease/Syndrome
Asphyxiation, chemical
Category
Acute Poisoning
Acute/Chronic
Acute-Severe (life-threatening)
Synonyms
Toxic asphyxiation
Biomedical References
Comments
Chemical asphyxiants include hydrogen cyanide (HCN), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and carbon monoxide (CO). HCN and H2S combine with enzymes to disrupt respiration at the cellular level, while CO binds with hemoglobin to block the delivery of oxygen to the cells. Other findings may include confusion, ataxia, weakness, and tachycardia that can progress to bradycardia and asystole. [5MCC, Current Consult, p. 1078, 1091, Ford, p. 706]
Latency/Incubation
Seconds to hours
Diagnostic
History; signs of brain hypoxia; carboxyhemoglobin level;
ICD-9 Code
986
ICD-10 Code
T58

Symptoms/Findings, Job Tasks, and Agents Linked to This Disease