J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol.  2009 Dec;7(2):105-112.

Relation of First Aid associated with Complications after Snake Bites

• Jeon JC
• Lee DH
• Kwon GY
• Kim SJ

Abstract

PURPOSE: There have been local wound complications in patients who have received first aid after venomous snake bites. Yet first aid in relation to local wound complications has not been well studied.
METHODS
We conducted a 5-year retrospective study of 111 snake bite patients who visited the emergency departments of several medical centers between January 2004 and December 2008. We categorized the patients into those who had complications with inadequate first aid, those who had complications without first aid and those who had complications with adequate first aid. We compared the general characteristics and the laboratory and clinical findings of the three groups.
RESULTS
The male to female ratio was 1.36. The most common bite site was fingers. The most common systemic symptom was dizziness (6.3%) and the most common complication was rhabdomyolysis (23.4%). The inadequate first aids group had more local complications (cellulitis, skin necrosis) than did the group with adequate first aid or the group with no first aids.
CONCLUSION
Inadequate first aid after snake bite leads to local complications, so we must be careful to administer first aid after snake bite and evaluate this first aid in relation to local complications

Keyword

Snake bites; Complications; First Aid

MeSH Terms

Bites and Stings
Dizziness
Emergencies
Female
Fingers
First Aid
Humans
Male
Retrospective Studies
Rhabdomyolysis
Skin
Snake Bites
Snakes
Venoms
Venoms