Crotaline envenomation
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Background
- The Crotalinae subfamily of Viperidae classifies the, new world vipers, or pit vipers. The snakes have a pitlike depression behind the nostril that contains a heat-sensing organ used to find prey.
- Includes rattlesnakes and copperheads
- Venom causes local tissue injury, hemolysis, coagulopathy, neuromuscular dysfunction
- Up to 25% of bites are dry bites
Common Crotaline snake names
- Rattlesnake
- Cottonmouth
- Copperhead
- Sidewinder
- Water moccasin
- Massasauga
Venom
- Venom form a Crotaline mainly damages local tissue via metalloproteinases and hyaluronidase which cause swelling edema and damage to capillaries.
- Clinical effects consist of:
- local tissue damage
- Coagulapathies (pro and anti effects)
- Platelet dysfunction
- Neurotoxic effects
Clinical Features
- Fang marks, localized pain, progressive edema extending from bite site
- Edema near the airway or in muscle compartment may threaten life or limb
- Nausea/vomiting, oral numbness/tingling, dizziness, muscle fasciculations
- Ecchymoses may appear within minutes to hours
Differential Diagnosis
Envenomations, bites and stings
- Hymenoptera stings (bees, wasps, ants)
- Mammalian bites
- Closed fist infection (Fight bite)
- Dog bite
- Marine toxins and envenomations
- Toxins (ciguatera, neurotoxic shellfish poisoning, paralytic shellfish poisoning, scombroid, tetrodotoxin
- Stingers (stingray injury)
- Venomous fish (catfish, zebrafish, scorpion fish, stonefish, cone shells, lionfish, sea urchins)
- Nematocysts (coral reef, fire coral, box jellyfish, sea wasp, portuguese man-of-war, sea anemones)
- Phylum porifera (sponges)
- Bites (alligator/crocodile, octopus, shark)
- Scorpion envenomation
- Reptile envenomation
- Spider bites
Diagnosis
Work-Up
- CBC
- Coags
- Fibrinogen
- FDP
- Chemistry
Evaluation
- Must have a snakebite + evidence of tissue injury:
- Local injury (swelling, pain, ecchymosis)
- Hematologic abnormality (thrombocytopenia, elevated INR, hypofibrinogenemia)
- Systemic effects (oral swelling/paresthesias, metallic taste, hypotension, tachycardia)
- Absence of all of the above 8-12hr after bite indicates dry bite
Treatment
Local Care
- Do:
- Remove all jewelry
- Mark the leading edge of erythema/edema
- Do not:
- Attempt to suck out the venom
- Place the affected part in cold water
- Use a tourniquet or wrap
- Antivenom is first line treatment for compartment syndrome; fasciotomy is last resort if elevated pressures persist.
Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (FabAV) Antivenin (Crofab)
Indications
- Progression of swelling
- Abnormal results on lab tests (plt < 100,000 or fibrinogen < 100)
- Systemic manifestations (unstable vitals or AMS)
Initial Administration
- The total volume but NOT the number of vials may be reduced in small children
- Establish initial control of envenomation by giving 4-6 vials
- Control achieved? (Cessation of progression of all components of envenomation, including labs checked 2 hours after infusion started)
- If yes:the perform serial exams and consider maintenance therapy
- If no: repeat infusion of 4-6 vials and then re-evaluate for control
Maintenance therapy
- Maintance therapy may be indicated after initial dosing based on local protocols even if control is achieved.[1]
- Infuse 2-vial doses at 6, 12, and 18hr after initial control achieved
Envenomation control measurement
- Must observe for progression of envenomation during and after antivenom infusion
- Measure limb circumference at several site above and below bite
- Mark advancing border of edema q30min
- Repeat labs q4hr or after each course of antivenom (whichever is more frequent)
Antivenom Side Effects
- Acute reactions occur in <10% pts
- If occurs stop infusion and give antihistamines / epi if needed
- Recurrent thrombocytopenia has been described up to 2 weeks after transfusion with FabAV and is likely a result of isolated renal clearance of FabAV and persistent presence of actual venom in serum.[2]
- Only described in patients with history of thrombocytopenia during hospital course
- Warrants close monitoring of platelets by primary physician or return visit after discharge
Supportive care
- IVF and pressors if needed for hypotension
- Blood component replacement indicated if antivenom fails to stop active bleeding
Watch for compartment syndrome
- If signs of compartment syndrome are present and pressure >30:
- Elevate limb
- Administer additional FabAV 4-6 vials IV over 60min
- If elevated compartment pressure persists another 60min consider fasciotomy
Disposition
- Must observe all snakebite pts for at least 8hr before determining patient disposition
- Bites that initially appear innocuous and labs normal at presentation can be deceptive
- Discharge if symptom-free after 8hr
- Admit all pts receiving antivenom to the ICU
- Admit pts to the ward if have completed or do not require further antivenom therapy
See Also
References
- ↑ Crofab treatment agorithmn http://www.crofab.com/documents/CroFab-Treatment_Algorithm.pdf
- ↑ Ruha AM et al. Late hematologic toxicity following treatment of rattlesnake envenomation with crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab antivenom. Toxicon. 2011;57:53–59.