Document Detail


Snakebites in adults from the Diyarbakir region in southeast Turkey.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20517744     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Snake venom poisoning is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention. Bites from poisonous Turkish snakes can lead to local tissue damage and systemic symptoms. The Vipera ammodytes species accounts for the majority of envenomation in southeast Turkey. METHODS: The demographic and epidemiological characteristics, clinical symptoms and signs, laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome of 79 consecutive victims of V. ammodytes poisoning admitted to our hospital from 2003 to 2005 were reviewed and analyzed prospectively. RESULTS: The most common symptoms and signs included fang marks (100%), pain (100%), swelling (83.5%), ecchymosis (92.4%), tachycardia (24.1%), fainting or dizziness (14.5%), fever (19.0%), enlargement of regional lymph nodes (43.0%), nausea (70.9%), hypotension (21.5%), vomiting (36.7%), and dyspnea (3.2%). The main complications were thrombophlebitis, reduced range of motion, local hemorrhagic blister formation, bleeding from skin, rhabdomyolysis, reduced sensation, acute renal failure, necrosis with tissue loss, digit amputation, carpal tunnel syndrome, and compartment syndrome. CONCLUSION: A V. Ammodytes bite is a potentially serious event that requires immediate hospital care. Nevertheless, the majority of victims can be treated successfully with conservative methods. No deaths occurred in our series.
Authors:
Behçet Al; Murat Orak; Mustafa Aldemir; Cahfer Güloğlu
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Ulusal travma ve acil cerrahi dergisi = Turkish journal of trauma & emergency surgery : TJTES     Volume:  16     ISSN:  1306-696X     ISO Abbreviation:  Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg     Publication Date:  2010 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-06-02     Completed Date:  2010-08-20     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101274231     Medline TA:  Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg     Country:  Turkey    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  210-4     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey. behcetal@hotmail.com
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Child
Employment
Female
Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Severity of Illness Index
Snake Bites / complications,  diagnosis,  epidemiology*,  prevention & control
Turkey / epidemiology

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