Vasculotoxic snake bite presenting with sepsis, acute renal failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and acute respiratory distress syndrome

• Main Authors: Vikram Bhausaheb Vikhe, Ankur Gupta, Prakash Shende, Jinendra Jain
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2013-01-01
• Series: Medical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil University
• Subjects: Acute renal failure; Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome; disseminated intravascular coagulation; sepsis; vasculotoxic snake bite
• Online Access: http://www.mjdrdypu.org/article.asp?issn=0975-2870;year=2013;volume=6;issue=2;spage=197;epage=199;aulast=Vikhe

Vasculotoxic snake bites are well known to cause local complications like necrosis and cellulitis and systemic complications such as coagulopathy, acute renal failure (ARF), and hemolysis. We report a case of young female patient who was bitten by a viper. She developed cellulitis, sepsis, ARF, and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation. She was treated for the above complications and all her renal and hematological parameters returned to normal on seventh day. After this, on the same day, patient developed Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome probably due to the direct toxic effect of venom on pulmonary vascular endothelium which has been reported as a late complication of snake venom. With close monitoring and proper management of complications, the patient recovered and walked out of the hospital on the twenty first day without any complications.