A retrospective analysis of snake envenomation in the intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital in Delhi

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiology, clinical profile and treatment for patients with snake bite in the intensive care unit of our hospital. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with snake bite admitted to the intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital, North Delhi, was conducted between January 2013 and October 2018. Their demographic profile, time and site of bite, clinical manifestations and time interval between the bite and anti-snake venom administration were recorded. Results: A total number of 102 patients with snake bite were studied, of which 54.9% were males and 45.1% were females. Most patients were presented in the monsoon season and snake bites occurred mainly in the night and early morning. A total of 56.3% of the patients with clinical manifestations received anti-snake venom within 3 h after the snake bite. Most patients presented with painless bites and neuroparalytic features with ptosis that was the most common clinical manifestation (50.9%). Anti-snake venom was administered to 55 patients (53.9%) with an average dose of 42 vials per patient and the mortality was 11.7%. Conclusions: Neuroparalytic krait envenomation accounted for the highest incidence of venomous bites in our study. Early medical treatment with judicious anti snake venom administration and related education is crucial.