The journal of the Japanese Practical Surgeon Society · 1988 · 11 citations · 0 references
PharmacyPharmacotherapyAntidote TherapyExotic Animal MedicineInsect ToxicologyAntivenom TherapyVenom BiologyClinical Manifestations Of SnakebiteSwellingSystemic Administration
While the efficacy of cepharanthine has already been reported in treating the patients bitten by vipers, the pros and cons of administering antivenin are discussed in this report. One hundred fourteen patients including two deaths were experienced from 1978 to 1987, and about 80% of the incidents occurred in July, August and September. The ocurrence has declined annually.In the patients treated with antivenin the degree of local swelling was less, the incidence of systemic symptoms like visual disturbance was significantly lower (14%) than in those not given antivenin (65%) (p<0.001) and the period of therapy was significantly shorter. In laboratory data, LDH and GOT increased with the swelling, and the degree of abnormality was less in those given antivenin.If antivenin was injected within 3 hours of the bite, the clinical course was favorable in terms of local swelling and the incidence of systemic symptoms.The administration of antivenin is desirable in treating patients bitten by viper.