Pathophysiology a co toxicity causes impaired oxygen delivery and utilization a CO reversibly binds hemoglobin, resulting in relative anemia Co binds hemoglobin 230-260 times more avidly than oxygen dissociation of co from hbco is slow than that of o2 from Hbo2(1/3600)Pathophysiology ◼ CO toxicity causes impaired oxygen delivery and utilization ◼ CO reversibly binds hemoglobin, resulting in relative anemia. – CO binds hemoglobin 230-260 times more avidly than oxygen. – dissociation of CO from HbCO is slow than that of O2 from HbO2 (1/3600)