Open AccessClinical Aspects and Emergent Management of Snake Bites Presented to Emergency Department
Author(s) -
Bedriye Müge Sönmez,
Fevzi Yılmaz,
Cemil Kavalcı,
Muhittin Yılmaz,
Ayhan Özhasenekler,
Şervan Gökhan,
Ahmet Akbulut,
Fatíh Alagöz
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the annals of clinical and analytical medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2667-663X
DOI - 10.4328/jcam.2253
Subject(s) - medicine , emergency department , medical emergency , animal bites , emergency medicine , pathology , psychiatry , epidemiology
Aim: Evaluating the epidemiologic characteristics and management of snake bites presenting to emergency departments. Material and Method: In this retrospective study 74 cases of snakebites admitted to Emergency Department of Diyarbakir Training and Research Hospital between 2008 and 2009 were retrospectively evaluated. Results: Fourty-six (62.2%) of patients were male and 28 (37.8%) were female. Mean age of the study population was 34.85±19.17 (min 7- max 80) years. Most of the snakebites occurred between 18.00 to 06.00 hours and at home (73%). 79.7% of snake bites occurred to upper extremities. %93 of cases had intravenous administration of antivenin (one dose). Neither none of the patients needed recurrent administration. Discussion: Snake bites are still a major public health problem especially in rural areas. Particularly emergency care physicians should be adequately capable and sophisticated in multidisciplinary management of snake bites