Snake bites are an important cause of
morbidity and
mortality in tropical countries. Neurological
complications are quite common in
venomous snake bites.
Strokes, mainly haemorrhagic and occasionally ischaemic, have been reported in 2.6% of
snake bites. Direct effect of toxin, vasospasm and release of procoagulant and
anticoagulant factors have all been postulated as the cause. However
thrombotic stroke with involvement of a major cerebral vessel is very rare. We
report a case of complete left
internal carotid artery occlusion with
ischaemic stroke in a young lady after a Russel’s
viper bite.