Certified Hyperbaric Technologist Practice Test 2026 – Comprehensive Exam Prep

The preferred treatment method for carbon monoxide poisoning is immediate hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This approach is particularly effective because hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves the patient being placed in a chamber where they breathe 100% oxygen at pressures greater than atmospheric pressure. This environment accelerates the displacement of carbon monoxide from hemoglobin, thus significantly reducing the half-life of carboxyhemoglobin—the compound formed when carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy also promotes the restoration of oxygen delivery to tissues and helps mitigate the neurological effects associated with carbon monoxide toxicity, such as hypoxia and potential brain injury. The combination of high pressure and oxygen enhances the body's ability to eliminate carbon monoxide more quickly than at normal pressure and room air, which is why this method is recognized as the gold standard for treating severe cases of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Other methods, such as oxygen supplementation via nasal cannula, while helpful, do not provide the same level of care and are primarily supportive rather than curative for more serious cases. Ventilatory support may be necessary for patients with significant respiratory compromise but does not address the underlying issue of carbon monoxide binding. Administration of intravenous fluids is not a direct treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning and is generally reserved for managing other complications or comor