A range of cardiac arrhythmias may develop in a patient with carbon monoxide poisoning. Atrial arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation are less common.
ECG changes include
(1) QT dispersion and variability
(2) P wave dispersion
The atrial fibrillation is detected on the ECG. It may be new-onset or triggered by the carbon monoxide.
The diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning induced atrial fibrillation requires exclusion of atrial fibrillation present just prior to the exposure to carbon monoxide.
Hyperbaric oxygen has been used to successfully resolve the atrial arrhythmia.
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