Prague Med. Rep. 2016, 117, 153-163

https://doi.org/10.14712/23362936.2016.16

Severe Snakebite Envenoming in Intensive Care

Jiří Valenta, Zdeněk Stach, Pavel Michálek

Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

Received September 14, 2016
Accepted November 14, 2016

Snakebites by exotic venomous snakes can cause serious or even life-threatening envenoming. In Europe and North America most victims are breeders, with a few snakebites from wild native American rattlesnakes. The envenomed victims may present in organ and/or system failure with muscle paralysis, respiratory failure, circulatory instability, acute kidney injury, severe coagulation disorder, and local disability – compartment syndrome and necrosis. Best managed by close collaboration between clinical toxicology and intensive care, most severe envenomings are managed primarily by intensive care physicians. Due to the low incidence of severe envenoming, the clinical course and correct management of these cases are not intrinsically familiar to most physicians. This review article summarizes the clinical syndromes caused by severe envenoming and the therapeutic options available in the intensive care setting.

References

40 live references