title: Pulmonary effects and complications of snakebites.
abstract: This review is on the pulmonary complications of snakebites, which can have fatal consequences. We identified three common themes as reported in the literature regarding envenomation: generalized neuromuscular paralysis affecting airway and respiratory muscles, pulmonary edema, and pulmonary hemorrhages or thrombosis due to coagulopathy. Respiratory paralysis and pulmonary edema can be due to either elapid or viper bites, whereas pulmonary complications of coagulopathy are exclusively reported with viper bites. The evidence for each complication, timeline of appearance, response to treatment, and details of pathophysiology are discussed.
authors.affiliation: From the The Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Electronic address: ariaranee2000@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ariaranee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gnanathasan
authors.affiliation: From the The Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Chaturaka
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodrigo
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000150:complications*; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D012910:Snake Venoms