RESUMEN
Effectiveness of intramuscular (i.m) anti-snake venom (ASV) administration immediately after bite as a first-aid measure in the field followed by standard hospital treatment in the management of Russell's viper bite patients was studied in 12 victims and was compared with that of standard hospital management alone in 82 victims. there was a marked reduction in the number of patients with systemic envenomation ie. disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), clinical proteinuria, oliguric acute renal failure (ARF), systemic bleeding, hypotension and fatality rate of Russell's viper bite victims who received initial i.m ASV prior to the hospitalization compared with those who did not. It is recommended that i.m ASV could be administered to the Russell's viper bite patients at the site of incident as a first-aid method in places where no facility for giving intravenous ASV therapy prior to hospitalization.