title: Syncope, massive aspiration, and sudden death following rattlesnake bite.
abstract: Fatalities following rattlesnake bite are rare in the United States, usually occur some hours following the bite, and are generally secondary to direct venom effects. We report a patient with acute syncope and subsequent massive aspiration resulting in airway obstruction and rapid death following a probable Northern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus oreganus) bite.
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford Hospital, Stanford, California, USA. bob.norris@stanford.edu
authors: Robert L
authors: RL
authors: Norris
authors: James A
authors: JA
authors: Wilkerson
authors: Joanne
authors: J
authors: Feldman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017839:Crotalus; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000209:etiology; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology