When to think about a Lachesis muta envenomation in the Western Brazilian Amazon: Lessons from a case report

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Jacqueline de Almeida Gonçalves Sachett, Ana Paula Saboia Marinho, Marizete Melo de Oliveira Santos, Hui Wen Fan, Paulo Sérgio Bernarde, Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2022
• Subjects: Snakebite; Lachesis; Antivenom; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0027-2022; https://doaj.org/article/ecd9cbc32c8b49bfb91e90a92d32ad72

ABSTRACT In the Brazilian Amazon, envenomations by lancehead pit vipers prevail across the region, while bushmaster (Lachesis muta) envenomations are rarely confirmed. Here, we described a moderate snakebite, diagnosed as a lancehead pit viper envenomation upon admission and treated with four vials of Bothrops antivenom. Blood remained unclottable for 4 days of hospitalization. On day 4, after admission, the patient presented pictures of the perpetrating snake to the hospital staff, which was identified as a Lachesis muta specimen. After administering 10 vials of Lachesis antivenom, blood became clottable 12 hours after treatment. The patient was discharged without complaints.