Snakebite victim saved in the nick of time

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Snakebite victim saved in the nick of time

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

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11 December 2017
KAMPONG THOM - Ok Sam Aan, 52, a man living in Chi Ak village, Romanei district, between district and Preah Vihear province, almost died after he was bitten by a snake. His relatives had first taken him to a traditional Khmer healer, but when the bite became worse, they took him to Kampong Thom provincial hospital.
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Fortunately thanks to the specialist treatment at the hospital the man will recover and his leg was saved. However, the doctors said that the situation was dangerous because the man did not come to the hospital immediately.
They ask villagers not to resort to Khmer healers when there is a snakebite instead of bringing the victim directly to the hospital for snake bite treatment where there is serum and up-to-date medicines available.
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vladimir
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Re: Snakebite victim saved in the nick of time

Post by vladimir »

Cytotoxic venom will do that..I'm guessing Russell's viper or Malayan pit viper, he would be dead if it were a cobra/krait.

Russell's:

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Malayan

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Most bites happen with people walking through forested areas and rubber plantations

Relatively slower acting poison than elapids (cobra/krait etc), so you have some time to get to help

Traditional healers, absolutely worst way to go with snakebite, they often cut the puncture marks area and rub tree-bark in, probably the worst thing you can do for any snake bite.

Most serum here is sourced from India, which produces it for around $10/10 ml vial. I have heard reports of it costing $150 here, not really surprising.

Treatment:

IMMEDIATE FIRST AID
for bites by
Russell's Viper
(Vipera russelli pulchella
&
Vipera russelli siamensis)

In the event of an actual or probable bite from a Vipera russelli, execute the following first aid measures without delay.

Snake:

Make sure that the responsible snake or snakes have been appropriately and safely contained, and are out of danger of inflicting any additional bites.

Transportation: Immediately call for transportation.

Victim:

Keep the victim calm and reassured. Allow him or her to lie flat and avoid as much movement as possible. If possible, allow the bitten limb to rest at a level lower than the victim's heart.

Identify the bite site, looking for fang marks, and apply the Sawyer Pump extractor with the largest cup possible over the bite site. If there are two or more fang marks noted on the limb, apply the pump extractor over at least one fang mark. If more than one pump extractor is available, they may be applied to the additional fang marks.

(See the attached copy from "First Aid for Snakebite", by Dr. S.K. Sutherland.)

Immediately wrap a large constricting band snugly about the bitten limb at a level just above the bite site, ie. between the bite site and the heart. The constricting band should be as tight as one might bind a sprained ankle, but not so tight as to constrict blood flow.

DO NOT remove the constricting band until the victim has reached the hospital and is receiving antivenom.

Have the Haffkine Bio-Pharmaceutical Corporation Polyvalent Antivenom ready for the emergency crew to take with the victim to the hospital. Give them the following:

the available antivenom (at least 10 vials)
the accompanying instruction (Protocol) packet
the victim's medical packet (if available)

DO NOT cut or incise the bite site.
DO NOT apply ice to the bite site.

Read more here: http://toxicology.ucsd.edu/Snakebite%20 ... usseli.htm
Last edited by vladimir on Fri Dec 15, 2017 11:09 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Snakebite victim saved in the nick of time

Post by SmartAston Martin »

Cute nurse in Kampong Thom!
Melvin Udall: Never, never, interrupt me, okay?

Not if there's a fire, not even if you hear the sound of a thud from my home and one week later there's a smell coming from there that can only be a decaying human body and you have to hold a hanky to your face because the stench is so thick that you think you're going to faint.

Even then, don't come knocking...Not for ANY reason.
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Re: Snakebite victim saved in the nick of time

Post by vladimir »

Hope you guys are not having lunch...

Side-effects, 8 YEARS after a bite:
Spoiler:
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Re: Snakebite victim saved in the nick of time

Post by Fourkinnel »

Identify the bite site, looking for fang marks, and apply the Sawyer Pump extractor with the largest cup possible over the bite site. If there are two or more fang marks noted on the limb, apply the pump extractor over at least one fang mark. If more than one pump extractor is available, they may be applied to the additional fang marks.
What's a Sawyer Pump extractor? I just never seen one in the local pharmacy.
So it's supposed to be a no no to actually suck the poison out by mouth?

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Re: Snakebite victim saved in the nick of time

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

Woman Facing her Leg being Cut Off after Believing a Khmer Healer
[Warning: Shock photo below]
Kampong Chnang: A 53 year old Cambodian woman named Chey Sombath is facing a leg amputation after she put her faith in a khmer healer to cure her leg after she got bitten by a venomous snake.

According to the relatives of the woman, she went to the village hall at night, on the way she got bitten by a snake. Suddenly her leg got swollen bigger and bigger, then they took her to khmer healer to cure her. However, the swelling didn't heal and became cracked, so then they took her to the provincial hospital for medical treatment.

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Unfortunately, it was too late. The doctor said the poison had reached over her leg and he was unable to cure her, so he sent her to a Phnom Penh Hospital. She was sent home because she had little money, but then had to go back to the provincial hospital where the team tried to save her leg, but they now say it is impossible.
This is all very sad and unnecessary, because the doctors would have been able to save the leg if the woman had gone straight to the hospital instead of a khmer healer.
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Re: Snakebite victim saved in the nick of time

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

Odor Meanchey, Cambodia News: 8-year-old boy, Chev Vichat, got bitten by a python* snake while he was sleeping at 4:30 am, on August 11, 2018, at his home in Svay Chek district, Odor Meanchey.

After the incident, the victim's parents took the boy to the hospital.
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*Translation says "python snake", but there are many different python species - anyone know what sort of snake this is ?
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Re: Snakebite victim saved in the nick of time

Post by that genius »

Markings look more like a Russell's viper than a reticulated python. Hard to tell without a head shot. Reticulated pythons have many colouration variations, even within one geographic location. Google reticulated python Cambodia, you will see what I mean.

However, ignoramuses often bait snakes, and they will retaliate..if a venomous snake like a Russell's viper had bitten this kid in the neck, he would be dead within hours.

Pythons have recurved teeth and can deliver nasty bites...I had a 3m one latch onto my arm and it took me 15 painful minutes to get it off. Antibiotics and Betadine.
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Re: Snakebite victim saved in the nick of time

Post by kiwiincambodia »

that genius wrote:Markings look more like a Russell's viper than a reticulated python. Hard to tell without a head shot. Reticulated pythons have many colouration variations, even within one geographic location. Google reticulated python Cambodia, you will see what I mean.

However, ignoramuses often bait snakes, and they will retaliate..if a venomous snake like a Russell's viper had bitten this kid in the neck, he would be dead within hours.

Pythons have recurved teeth and can deliver nasty bites...I had a 3m one latch onto my arm and it took me 15 painful minutes to get it off. Antibiotics and Betadine.
Pretty sure the kid would be dead if it was a Russell’s viper wouldn’t he?

I remember when I first came over I did a bit of work with CMAC out in the province. I remember them telling me there was very little viper anti venom in Cambodia and most victims had to be rushed to Vietnam. This was 9-10 years ago so the situation could be different now.
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Re: Snakebite victim saved in the nick of time

Post by that genius »

The cost of antivenom in India (the main supplier) is between $10-15/dose

Magic make sit around $150 in Cambodia.

A bite on the foot or leg with a Russell's viper is not really life-threatening if you can get the victim to decent help within 12 hours...a kid in the neck...dead. Never herad of aRussel's viper bite on the neck before. Highest was just below the knee.

Pythons strike upward and aim for the upper torso...so probably the kid was baiting a retic. I hope he's learned a lesson.
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