title: Failure of electric shock treatment for rattlesnake envenomation.
abstract: The use of high-voltage electric shock therapy for the treatment of snake venom poisoning has recently gained popularity in the United States. We present a case that documents the dangerous, ineffective application of electric shock to the face of a patient envenomated by a Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis lutosus). The successful use of antivenin in this critically ill, antivenin-allergic patient is described.
authors.affiliation: Section of Emergency Medicine, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Dart
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gustafson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D000997:Antivenins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002437:Cefazolin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D004155:Diphenhydramine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count; D017713:Platelet Transfusion; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D004155:Diphenhydramine; D002437:Cefazolin; D006854:Hydrocortisone