Efficacy of delayed administration of crotalid antivenom and crystalloid fluids.
Clinical and research reports suggest that the efficacy of antivenom declines when its administration is delayed after envenomation. A controlled sequential trial was performed comparing the efficacy of three treatments to untreated controls when applied 1 hr after subcutaneous injection of rats with Crotalus atrox venom. Survival was decreased in all groups when treatment was delayed for 1 hr. Survival was highest in animals treated with both antivenom and saline, followed by antivenom alone, saline alone and then untreated animals.
Dart
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RC
Section of Emergency Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson 85724.
Goldner
A P
AP
Lindsey
D
D
D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000628:therapy
D000997:Antivenins; D003435:Crotalid Venoms