Poisonous snakebite treatment in the United States

Abstract

This is retrospective report of 107 cases of poisonous snakebites treated in south Georgia and north Florida. Sixty-seven percent of the cases required intensive treatment. Intravenous antivenin therapy, if indicated, should be given early and over a short time. Steroids are of use primarily for allergic phenomena. Fasciotomies were not necessary unless cooling or inadequate antivenin had been administered. A grading system that matches the species of snake with the severity of the bite was used to classify the cases.