Posted by:
jfmoore
at Mon Mar 27 06:44:48 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by jfmoore ]
Here's the abstract from another write-up in 2003 with a few more details:
Intravenous injection of rattlesnake venom
Blair, HW; Ramsey, RP; Morgan, DL
Journal of Toxicology: Clinical Toxicology [J. Toxicol.: Clin. Toxicol.]. Vol. 41, no. 5, p. 701. Aug 2003.
Intentional intravenous (IV) injection of various substances such as lamp oil, mercury, cyanide, arsenic, sublimate solution, and bleach have been reported to the Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. A thorough literature search revealed three reported cases of suspected self-injected IV rattlesnake envenomation, however we report the only known case of intentional IV injection. A 14 year-old male found vomiting and confused on a roadway stated to EMS that he "injected snake into myself." It was later determined he had milked a rattlesnake and then injected the contents with a syringe into his right antecubital vein in a suicide attempt. Intense pain immediately followed, and patient sought help. His right antecubital fossa had an area of erythema with multiple pinpoint petechiae. He was confused, tachycardic, unable to protect his airway, and a blood pressure could not be obtained. He was intubated, begun on a dopamine drip, and initially received 4 vials of CroFab registered antivenom. Initial laboratory tests showed an elevated white blood cell count, elevated INR, and decreased platelets. The patient's hospital course was complicated by a gastrointestinal bleed. He received a total of 22 vials of CroFab, 2 units of fresh frozen plasma, 6 units of platelets, IV fluids, and supportive care. The laboratory values returned to near normal within a few days. The patient was discharged on the 5th day with a normal physical examination. Although other reports of suspected IV rattlesnake envenomation were found in the literature, we report the first known self-inflicted injection. Despite the rapid onset of life-threatening symptoms, this patient was managed successfully with antivenin and supportive care.
Descriptors: Venom; Toxins; Crotalus
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