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. 2012 Jan;28(1):45-50.
doi: 10.4103/0970-9185.92434.

Retrospective analysis of snake victims in Northern India admitted in a tertiary level institute

Syed Moied Ahmed  1 , Abu Nadeem, Mohd Sabihul Islam, Shiwani Agarwal, Lalit Singh
Affiliations

Retrospective analysis of snake victims in Northern India admitted in a tertiary level institute

Syed Moied Ahmed et al. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2012 Jan.

Abstract

Context: Snake bites are the common cause of morbidity and mortality in tropical countries.

Aims: To analyze the outcome of snake bite victims

Settings and design: Retrospective analysis of data from Intensive care unit, Department of Anesthesiology.

Materials and methods: All the patients admitted in the intensive care unit for snake bite management during the year May 2004 - April 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. The data included age, sex, month and time of incident, site of bite, dose of anti--snake venom, time of anti--snake venom, administration, duration of mechanical ventilation, complications and death of a victim.

Statistical analysis used: Pearson's correlation test, paired samples t-test.

Results and conclusions: 113 patients reported to the Accident and Emergency with history of snake bite. 26 patients were referred to other hospital, 17 patients were brought dead, and 70 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. In 59 snake-bite victims, maximum data could be recovered. Krait was the most common type of snake bite reported. There was a male preponderance (69.4%) with age ranging between 20 and 40 years (52.5%). The mean lag time (time elapsed between bite and first dose of anti--snake venom) was 5.3 ± 1.4 h and the mean anti-snake venom dose was 12.3 ± 2.4 vials. There was a positive and significant correlation between lag time and total dose of anti--snake venom (correlation coefficient =0.956, P<0.0001). Overall 72.9% patients required mechanical ventilation with a mean duration of 56.2 ± 16.1 h. 10.2% patients sustained cardiac arrest, 8.7% patients developed ventilator associated pneumonia, 6.7% suffered mild anti-snake venom reaction, 6.7% had hypotension and 5.1% patients developed renal failure. The overall mortality was 5.1%.

Keywords: Anti-snake venom; lag time; snake-bite.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of patient according to the severity of envenomation
Figure 2
Figure 2
The comparison between the severity of bites in relation to lag time, duration of mechanical ventilation, and ASV dose with severity of snakebite
Figure 3
Figure 3
Incidences of complications according to the severity of envenomation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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