Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Of 123 patients with proved Russell's viper bite, 28% showed no evidence of envenoming, 28% had local swelling alone, but 44% had systemic envenoming manifested by incoagulable blood (100% of those admitted before treatment), thrombocytopenia (26%), spontaneous systemic bleeding (20%), hypotension (35%), evidence of increased capillary permeability (24%), and oliguria (44%). Patients with systemic envenoming usually had more local swelling than those without, but 5 had no local signs. Snake length correlated with the amount of local swelling, but snakes causing systemic envenoming were no longer than those causing local or no envenoming. Burma Pharmaceutical Industry monospecific antivenom was rapidly effective in restoring blood coagulability but did not prevent the development of renal failure even when given within 4 h of the bite. Hypotension responded to volume expanders (11/19 cases) and dopamine (6/7 cases) but not to naloxone (0/3) or high-dose methylprednisolone (0/5). The 10 deaths (8%) were attributed to hypotension, pituitary haemorrhage, and renal failure.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Lancet

Publication Date

07/12/1985

Volume

2

Pages

1259 - 1264

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Antivenins, Blood Cell Count, Blood Coagulation, Capillary Permeability, Female, Humans, Hypotension, Male, Middle Aged, Myanmar, Oliguria, Snake Bites, Viper Venoms