Management of Undiagnosed Case of Snakebite Patient with Respiratory Failure in ICU
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Venomous snakebite is an acute life -threatening emergency. Snakebite is most common among agricultural workers and children especially in rural areas all over the world.1 The snake venom can be neurotoxic, hematotoxic or myotoxic. Rarely, snakebite can be occult where history is not clear with no visible bite marks which delays the diagnosis and complicates management. In such cases, clinical suspicion is of utmost importance for unexplained neuroparalysis. Sometimes, neuromuscular paralysis is so severe that it mimics brain death. In north india, the two important neurotoxic snakes leading to muscle paralysis are Cobra and Common krait. Due to respiratory muscle paralysis these patients require ventilator support in addition to anti-snake venom. We present a case of suspected snake bite presenting with loss of consciousness and h/o vomiting and remained in comatose state for over 4 days before gradual recovery.
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References
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