Man With Altered Mental Status

Abstract

A 54-year-old man was brought to the emergency department by ambulance for altered mental status during a house fire. Per emergency medical services’ report, he had been rescued from his apartment’s bathroom floor, filled with smoke. The patient’s carbon monoxide level was measured using a pulse co-oximeter and found to be at an unreadable high level. Therefore, he was intubated to maintain his airway given his altered mental status, seizures, and potential for inhalational injury. Upon physical examination, there were no overt signs of trauma or burns.