Category: Toxicology
Keywords: cyanide toxicity, lactic acid (PubMed Search)
Posted: 12/29/2016 by Hong Kim, MD
(Updated: 12/30/2016)
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Smoke inhalation victims (house fires) are at risk of carbon monoxide (CO) and cyanide poisoning (CN). CO exposure/poisoning can be readily evaluated by CO - Oximetry but CN level can be obtained in majority of the hospital.
Lactic acid level is often sent to evaluate for CN poisoning.
Bottom line:
In a manuscript published in 1991, N Engl J Med by Dr. FJ Baud is the source of this data.
CN blood levels were measured in 109 residetial fire victims in France prior to any treatment was initiated.
Baud FJ et al. Elevated blood cyanide concentrations in victims of smoke inhalation. N Engl J Med 1991;325:1761-6.