Early-Onset Respiratory Muscle Paralysis in Crotalic Envenomation: A Case Study

ABSTRACT Crotalic envenomation is responsible for approximately 8%-13% of ophidism cases in Brazil, yet it is associated with the highest mortality among snakes. We describe the case of a patient bitten by a rattlesnake who developed ventilatory muscle paralysis within hours after envenomation. Whil...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
Main Authors: Juliana Sartorelo Almeida, Felipe Carvalhaes Possas, Adebal de Andrade Filho, Samir de Oliveira Sauzen, Rodrigo Ganem Sugino
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2023
Subjects:
Crotalus
Respiratory failure
Antivenom
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
RC955-962
Arctic
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0374-2023
https://doaj.org/article/b207b617c0fe4705b7cf8b8fdc7f1aaf
Description
Summary:ABSTRACT Crotalic envenomation is responsible for approximately 8%-13% of ophidism cases in Brazil, yet it is associated with the highest mortality among snakes. We describe the case of a patient bitten by a rattlesnake who developed ventilatory muscle paralysis within hours after envenomation. While diaphragmatic paralysis is a rare late neurotoxic event following crotalic envenomation, in this case, paralysis occurred early but was rapidly reversed after antivenom administration. This report discusses potential contributing factors based on a comprehensive literature review.

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