ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Snake venom induced coagulopathy is a major cause of both morbidity and mortality among affected patients. The effects of venomous factors to coagulation cascade and fibrinolysis were verified by analyzing the hematological data and clinical features of envenomed patients, and the efficacy of blood products transfusion and antivenin against a Korean snakebite clarified. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 57 patients, admitted to the Department of Surgery of Chuncheon Sacred Hospital, between July 2002 and October 2005. According to the guidelines for assessing the severity of North American envenomination, the patients were divided into three groups according to severity, and the clinical course, DIC profile and usages of blood products and antivenin then analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 15 patients in the severe group (26.3%), 9 (60.0%) developed severe coagulation abnormalities, similar to DIC. No substantial bleeding or thrombic event manifested. All the patients with initial hypofibrinogenemia (33.3%) and unmeasured PT/aPTT during the 2nd to 4th hospital days (46.7%) progressed to severe coagulopathy. On average, these patients received transfusions of 18.4 +/- 6.1 pints of FFP and 14.4 +/- 14.9 pints of platelet product. The average amounts of antivenin applied were 1.2 +/- 0.4, 1.7 +/- 0.5 and 2.8 +/- 0.8 vials for the Minimal, Moderate and Severe groups, respectively. There was no death due to a Korean snakebite during this period. CONCLUSION: Korean snake venom is assumed to be a complex mixture of anticoagulant, platelet active and fibrinolytic venom. The discrepancy between abnormal coagulopathy and the clinical course explains venom induced DIC-like syndrome. Hypofibrinogenemia is the most reasonable predictor of DIC-like syndrome. Abrupt prolongation of PT/aPTT during the 2nd to 4th hospital days must weigh against thrombocytopenia. An early antivenin injection, along with the proper use of blood products, could improve the clinical course of envenomed patients.