Computational Physiology Laboratory
Center for Biomedical Engineering
University of Kentucky

Research on Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning

    Study objectives: (1) to develop a mathematical model to predict the distribution in the body of CO when a person is poisoned; (2) to predict the degree of impairment of oxygen delivery to vital tissues (heart, brain) in CO poisoning; (3) to design treatment protocols for victims of CO poisoning that maximize oxygen delivery to vital tissues.
 
 
Above: Block diagram of the model of whole-body uptake and distribution of CO. Mass balance differential equations are written for each of the indicated compartments.
  Shown below is an example of using the mathematical model to predict the consequences of CO exposure in the workplace. In this example, it was assumed that the worker is exposed to a low level of CO consistently throughout the work day, plus he receives a short exposure to a much higher level every day. Note the progressive rise in the amount of CO bound to myoglobin in muscle (%COMb) as the week progresses. Because the removal of CO from the body takes many hours (unless the person is given oxygen to breathe), the worker does not rid his body of CO during the time when he is away from work.

 
Above: Model-based prediction of CO content of blood (COHb) and of muscle tissue (COMb) over the course of a work week when a male worker encounters both low-level CO exposure and brief high-level exposure daily.
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