Evaluation of patients with snakebite who presented to the emergency department: 132 cases.
BACKGROUND
The present objective was to evaluate clinical stages, complications, treatment modalities, and termination of treatment in patients who presented to the emergency department with snakebite.


METHODS
A total of 132 snakebite cases were retrospectively examined using emergency department records.


RESULTS
The majority of patients, 42.9% (n=57), had grade 0 snakebite. The local complication most frequently observed was pain (42.4%, n=56); the most common systemic complication was prolonged international normalized ratio (INR) level (5.3%, n=7). Local complications were observed in patients at all stages, while systemic complications were observed only in patients at advanced stages. Antivenom was administered in 46.4% (n=61) of patients, 52.2% (n=69) of patients were hospitalized, and 47.7% (n=63) of patients were discharged after 6-12 hours of monitoring. No negative outcome was observed during 6-month or year-long follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Complications should be evaluated based on type of toxin, and appropriate treatment should be initiated efficiently, according to clinical stage. This approach reduces or prevents the development of complications.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Hatay-Turkey.
Mustafa
M
Şahan
Department of Emergency Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Hatay-Turkey.
Veyis
V
Taşın
Department of Emergency Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Hatay-Turkey. drkarakus@yahoo.com.
Ali
A
Karakuş
Department of Biochemistry, Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Hatay-Turkey.
Oguzhan
O
Özcan
Department of Emergency Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Farabi Hospital, Trabzon-Turkey.
Umut
U
Eryiğit
Department of Emergency Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, Hatay-Turkey.
Güven
G
Kuvandık
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012910:Snake Venoms; D012911:Snakes; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D000997:Antivenins; D012910:Snake Venoms