Snake venom poisoning in Greece. Experiences with 147 cases

• Published in: European journal of internal medicine Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 24 - 27
• Main Authors: Frangides, Christos Y., Koulouras, Vasilios, Kouni, Sophia N., Tzortzatos, Gerasimos V., Nikolaou, Athanasios, Pneumaticos, John, Pierrakeas, Christos, Niarchos, Constantinos, Kounis, Nicholas G., Koutsojannis, Constantinos M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 2006
• Subjects: European snakes; Kounis syndrome; Rhabdomyolysis; Snake venom; Vipera ammodytes poisoning; Snake venom; Rhabdomyolysis; European snakes; Vipera ammodytes poisoning; Kounis syndrome
• ISSN: 0953-6205; 1879-0828
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2005.10.001

Snake venom poisoning is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention. Bites from poisonous European snakes can lead to local tissue damage and systemic symptoms. Vipera ammodytes accounts for the most envenomation in Greece. The demographic and epidemiological characteristics, clinical symptoms and signs, laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome of 147 consecutive victims of V. ammodytes admitted to our hospital from 1988 to 2003 were reviewed and analyzed. The most common symptoms and signs included fang marks (100%), pain (100%), swelling (98.64%), ecchymosis (60.54%), tachycardia (32.65%), fainting or dizziness (29.93%), fever (23.13%), enlargement of regional lymph nodes (17.69%), nausea (16.33%), hypotension (13.61%), and vomiting (12.93%). The main complications were reduced range of motion, thrombophlebitis, local hemorrhagic blister formation, skin bleeding, rhabdomyolysis, reduced sensation, acute renal failure, necrosis with tissue loss, carpal tunnel syndrome, compartment syndrome, Kounis syndrome, and digit amputation. A V. ammodytes bite is a potentially serious event that requires immediate hospital care. Yet, the majority of victims can be treated successfully with conservative methods. No deaths occurred in our series.