Snake bite envenomation: experience at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh

We surveyed the records of 21 of the 28 snakebite victims seen at King Fahad National Guard Hospital in Riyadh over the 20-year period 1986-2005. The most common symptoms were local pain and swelling and the most common signs oedema and tenderness. Neurotoxicity was not noted in any case. Coagulopathy was recorded for 14/21 patients [66.7%] and 5/19 [26.4%] had leukocytosis. All patients were given tetanus toxoid [100%] and 20 [95.2%] received antivenom. Blood products were administered in 2 cases and prophylactic antibiotics in 10 [47.6%]. No allergic reaction to antivenom was reported