Rattlesnake bites: current concepts.

The management of snake bites once the patient reaches the hospital should be to obtain the necessary blood parameters (type and cross-matched blood, complete blood count, platelets, PT, PTT, fibrinogen and fibrin split products, electrolytes and calcium), to evaluate the fang marks and the neurovascular status of the involved extremity and to monitor systemic signs and symptoms. These steps are extensively described in the literature, and are commonly agreed upon. We then start intravenous antivenom, after appropriate skin testing for horse serum allergy, beginning with 4--5 vials (8--10 in children) over the initial 30--60 minutes and titrating to cessation of the progression of the toxic signs. Concomitantly, we measure intracompartmental and subcutaneous tissue pressure in all clinically suspected areas. If intracompartment pressures are less than 30 mm Hg, surgical intervention is not necessary; antivenom is continued as necessary and the wick catheter measurements are repeated if indicated. If pressures are greater than 30 mm Hg,immediate surgical decompression is advisable.