A patient in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber for carbon monoxide poisoning needs assessment. What is the best indicator of treatment success?

The best indicator of treatment success for a patient undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy for carbon monoxide poisoning is arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis. ABGs provide crucial information about the patient's oxygenation status, carbon dioxide retention, and acid-base balance.

In cases of carbon monoxide poisoning, the presence of carboxyhemoglobin (hemoglobin bound with carbon monoxide) is a critical factor. The analysis of ABG can directly measure this level and help in assessing the effectiveness of the hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which aims to displace carbon monoxide from hemoglobin through increased oxygen levels in the blood.

While oxygen saturation levels are important, they may not accurately reflect the actual condition of a patient with carbon monoxide poisoning, as traditional pulse oximetry cannot differentiate between oxyhemoglobin and carboxyhemoglobin. Therefore, relying solely on oxygen saturation levels would not give a complete picture of the treatment's efficacy.

A complete blood count may provide valuable information regarding overall health and potential infections, but it does not specifically assess the effectiveness of the treatment for carbon monoxide toxicity. Similarly, monitoring the respiratory rate, although important, does not provide the specific biochemical data that ABGs offer in this context. Thus, arterial blood gas analysis is the most relevant indicator