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Home > Emergency Medical Minute > Podcast # 345: Snake Bites
Podcast: Emergency Medical Minute
Episode:

Podcast # 345: Snake Bites
Category: Science & Medicine
Duration: 00:06:01
Publish Date: 2018-06-20 11:00:00
Description:

Educational Pearls:

 

  • Snake bites commonly occur between April and October.
  • Rattlesnake bites are the most common.
  • Venom contains proteins/enzymes that cause local inflammation, coagulopathy, and systemic effects (hypotension, angioedema, renal failure, etc.) along with neurotoxins may cause fasciculations, ptosis, drooling, or hyporeflexia.
  • Management:
  • Mark site for swelling.
  • Monitor progression.
  • Elevate and immobilize injured limb and treat pain.
  • Check basic labs including coagulation studies, and update tetanus.
  • Antidote is CroFab and use if patient has systemic symptoms.  Anaphylaxis is a known complication of CroFab
  • Avoid: ice, tourniquets, and incision and drainage.

 

References

Hifumi T et. al.. Venomous snake bites: clinical diagnosis and treatment. J Intensive Care. 2015 Apr 1;3(1):16. doi: 10.1186/s40560-015-0081-8.

Warrell DA. Snake bite. Lancet. 2010. 375(9708):77-88. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61754-2.

Warrell DA. Envenoming and injuries by venomous and nonvenomous reptiles worldwide. In: Wilderness Medicine, 6th Edition, Auerbach PS (Ed), Elsevier Mosby, Philadelphia 2012. p.1040.
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