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3076391 
Journal Article 
Cyanide poisonings from flue gas. Germany in comparison to other European countries a subgroup analysis of the RISK study 
Weiss, S; Koch, EMW; Gottwald-Hostalek, U; Geldner, G 
2015 
1 
Notfall und Rettungsmedizin
ISSN: 1434-6222 
18 
3 
207-214 
WOS:000355345400006 
In the exploratory analysis of the study Risk of Cyanide Poisoning in Smoke Inhalation, Symptoms, Key Treatment and Outcome (RISK), differences between the data on cyanide poisoning in patients being exposed to flue gas from Germany and those from other countries were found. Further analysis of the data allowed details of these differences to be identified and rated. The evaluation of the RISK study was based on 102 patients (Germany 37 %; Belgium, France, Italy and Spain 63 %). The mean cyanide level +/- standard deviation was 13.9 +/- 25 A mu mol/l (confidence interval 95 % 8.1-19 A mu mol/l). The data of the RISK study were divided into 2 groups, where all patients from Germany were summarized into the first group and patients from other participating countries were allocated into the second group. For the comparisons, estimated variables means, medians, standard deviations, and quartiles were calculated. The comparison of the values showed a clear difference in the cyanide concentrations (mean 19.6 A mu mol/l, p = 0.01) with higher values in the patients from Germany. There was a trend for the carboxyhemoglobin values in Germany to be higher (p = 0.06). Likewise, significantly more German patients had deposits of soot on the face and in the sputum, which directly correlated with the cyanide concentrations. Based on the available data, the following explanations are hypothesized for the differences between the two groups: More cyanide-releasing material is found in German homes. The German study participants were of older age. The number of German patients with decreased Glasgow coma scale scores was higher. 
Carboxyhemoglobin; Carbon monoxide poisoning; Blood gas analysis; Smoke inhalation injury; Glasgow coma scale