Abstract: The clinical characteristics were compared between 52 cases of acute serious CO poisoning in elders and 54 cases in the ages between 14～59.The cerebral edema was the most frequent complication in both groups.The incidences of cerebral infarction,myocardial injury and late neurological symptoms were significantly higher in elder group(P<0.01,P<0.05 and P<0.05 respectively).The occuring rates of crush injury and hypotension in the aged group were lower than in the other group (P<0.05 and P<0.01 respectively).The results showed that the hemorrheological changes and functional breakdown of the tissues in elders constituted the pathological basis for the complications.

Key words: CO poisoning, elder, hyperbaric oxygen