On Thursday 17th March 2022 Professor Heather Jarman presented the findings of the EDCO study, which looks to understand the diagnosis of CO exposure in emergency departments (EDs).
Professor Jarman is Research Director Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions, and clinical research lead for the Emergency Department at St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London
The aim of the research has been to reduce misdiagnosis so that patients can be treated appropriately and not sent back to the site of exposure before it is safe to do so.
All patients presenting at the hospital ED with specific symptoms such as chest pain, headache or seizures, will complete a health questionnaire.
For those patients with raised COHb levels whose answers suggest possible CO poisoning, a registered gas engineer will be sent to investigate the scene of the suspected exposure.
Professor Jarman's full presentation can be found below.