Citation

Tibballs J, Padula AM, Winkel KD, Jackson HD. Anaesth. Intensive Care 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Australian Society of Anaesthetists, Publisher Australasian Medical Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0310057X20946047

PMID

33017183

Abstract

An adolescent victim of an urban snakebite developed respiratory failure, rhabdomyolysis and consumption procoagulopathy but recovered with two vials of tiger snake antivenom administered after a delay of 48 hours. The clinical significance of a post-bite collapse was not initially appreciated. Tiger snake (Notechis spp.) venom antigen was measurable in blood before antivenom but not after whereas antivenom was measurable in blood for nine ensuing days. This case adds to growing evidence that further pharmacokinetic research of venom-antivenom interaction is required to establish the correct dose and timing of tiger snake antivenom. Antivenom therapy, even when delayed, facilitates recovery from snake envenomation.

Language: en

Keywords

poisoning; Medicine; intensive care; acute poisoning; anaesthesia; envenomation; environmental injuries; paediatric intensive care; pharmacodynamics and drug monitoring; pharmacokinetics; pharmacological considerations; toxicology