Abstract
The management of snakebite (SB) envenoming in French Guiana (FG) is based on symptomatic measures and antivenom (AV) administration (Antivipmyn Tri®; Instituto Bioclon—Mexico). Our study aimed to assess clinical manifestations, the efficacy, and safety of Antivipmyn Tri® in the management of SB. Our study is a prospective observational work. It was conducted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Cayenne General Hospital between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2019. We included all patients hospitalized for SB envenoming. Our study contained three groups (without AV, three vials, and six vials Antivipmyn Tri®). During the study period, 133 patients were included. The main clinical symptoms were edema (98.5%), pain (97.7%), systemic hemorrhage (18%), blister (14.3%), and local hemorrhage (14.3%). AV was prescribed for 83 patients (62.3%), and 17 of them (20%) developed early adverse reactions. Biological parameters at admission showed defibrinogenation in 124 cases (93.2%), International Normalized Ratio (INR) > 2 in 104 cases (78.2%), and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) > 1.5 in 74 cases (55.6%). The time from SB to AV was 9:00 (5:22–20:40). The median time from SB to achieve a normal dosage of fibrinogen was 47:00 vs. 25:30, that of Factor II was 24:55 vs. 15:10, that of Factor V was 31:42 vs. 19:42, and that of Factor VIII was 21:30 vs. 10:20 in patients without and with AV, respectively, (p < 0.001 for all factors). Patients receiving Antivipmyn Tri® showed a reduction in the time to return to normal clotting tests, as compared to those who did not. We suggest assessing other antivenoms available in the region to compare their efficacy and safety with Antivipmyn Tri® in FG.
Highlights
Snakebite (SB) envenoming is a frequent event in French Guiana which can cause severe disabilities, or even death [1,2]
133 patients were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with a diagnosis of snakebite envenoming
Our study shows that snakebite envenoming is a public health problem in French Guiana with an average of 44 cases per year hospitalized in Cayenne General Hospital
Summary
Snakebite (SB) envenoming is a frequent event in French Guiana which can cause severe disabilities, or even death [1,2]. More than 99 snake species have been identified in French Guiana, of which 12 are venomous, and five of these (Bothrops atrox, Bothrops brazili, Bothrops bilineatus, Lachesis muta and Micruruss sp) are responsible for most cases of envenomation [4]. Antivipmyn Tri® was the sole antivenom against the genus Bothrops authorized for use by the French authorities and available in the national antivenom bank. In January 2017, a 39-year-old man died from severe hemorrhagic complication after being bitten by a snake, presumably Bothrops atrox, in Cayenne (the capital city of French Guiana)
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