Direct intracompartmental pressure measurement in the management of snakebites in children.
Snakebite remains a source of considerable morbidity in Natal. Despite the availability of specific and polyvalent antivenins, the regional effects of envenomation and inappropriate first-aid result in significant, potentially avoidable, disability--particularly in children. Direct measurement of intracompartmental pressure has been used as an adjunct to clinical assessment of the child with a swollen limb following snakebite in order to diagnose compartment syndrome. Initial encouraging results in 9 patients suggest that, in this difficult clinical situation, such measurements may have an important role in patient assessment.
Mars
M
M
Department of Physiology, University of Natal and King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban.
Hadley
G P
GP
Aitchison
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003664:Decompression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy