Open AccessA case report of detecting subclinical coagulopathy in a patient with boomslang (Dipholidus typus) bite
Author(s) -
Mungela J. Tambwe,
Vidya Lalloo,
Andreas Engelbrecht,
Ratang Pholosho Pelle
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
south african family practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2078-6204
pISSN - 2078-6190
DOI - 10.4102/safp.v63i1.5299
Subject(s) - thromboelastometry , medicine , antivenom , subclinical infection , coagulopathy , envenomation , fibrinogen , venom , intensive care medicine , ecology , biology
The boomslang (Dipholidus typus) has a predominantly haemotoxic venom. Because of the consumptive nature of the coagulopathy, signs and symptoms are usually delayed by up to 72 h after the bite. Traditional laboratory coagulation assays have a long turnaround time, by which time the patient's bleeding and clotting profile has changed. A 25-year-old male patient was bitten by a boomslang. Despite two normal laboratory coagulation assay results, a point-of-care rotational thromboelastometry showed low fibrinogen levels, leading to the administration of monovalent antivenom. This report highlights the value of point-of-care thromboelastometry in the care of patients with subclinical boomslang envenomation.