Mohave Rattle Snake Envenomation Treatment & Management

Do nothing to injure the patient or impede travel to the ED.

• Provide general support of airway, breathing, and circulation per advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) protocol; use oxygen, monitors, 2 large-bore intravenous lines (but minimize sticks when possible), and fluid challenge. In addition, minimize activity (if possible), remove jewelry or tight-fitting clothes in anticipation of swelling, and transport the patient to the ED as quickly and as safely as possible. Mark and time the border of advancing tenderness and edema often enough to gauge progression. No benefit was demonstrated when a negative pressure venom extraction device (eg, The Extractor from Sawyer Products) was evaluated in recent studies.^{[12, 13]} Incision across fang marks is not recommended. Mouth suction is contraindicated.
• Maintain the extremity in a neutral position of comfort.
• Lymphatic constriction bands and pressure immobilization techniques may inhibit the spread of venom, but whether they improve outcome is not clear. These techniques may actually be deleterious for pit viper envenomation if they increase local necrosis or compartment pressure.^[14] Special consideration of these techniques may be warranted for confirmed Venom A Mohave rattlesnake bites because local tissue injury is usually less. However, this application has not specifically been studied. Furthermore, it may not be possible to distinguish Venom A from Venom B snakes just by looking at the snake. The use of tourniquets is not recommended.
• First aid techniques that lack therapeutic value or are potentially more harmful than the snakebite include electric shock, alcohol, stimulants, aspirin, ice application, and various folk and herbal remedies. Cost and risk of acute adverse reactions generally preclude field use of antivenom.
• Although identification of the snake in suspected Mohave rattlesnake bites may be helpful, attempts to capture or kill the snake are not recommended because of the risk of additional injury.^[15] If the venomousness of a particular snake is uncertain, consider taking photographs of the snake from a safe distance of at least 6 feet away using a digital or Polaroid camera.

Adequate hydration with intravenous fluids is indicated. Patients with hypotension should be resuscitated first with 2 isotonic sodium chloride solution challenges (eg, 20 mL/kg). Treat persistent shock with colloids, followed by pressors as indicated.

Patients with Mohave rattlesnake envenomation may present with predominantly systemic and laboratory abnormalities, with only mild local and no hematological effects.

Administer antivenom for signs of envenomation progression or imminent risk of an acute complication of envenomation (see Complications).

Because Crotaline Fab antivenom (CroFab) appears safer than Antivenin Crotalidae Polyvalent, it is indicated even if the envenomation is minimal mild. It should be given as a preventative measure if there are any signs of envenomation at all. Do not wait for it to get worse—permanent injury could result.

Grading envenomations is a dynamic process; administer additional antivenom as indicated by a worsening clinical course. When considering the use of antivenom, weigh the risk of adverse reaction to antivenom against the benefits of reducing venom toxicity.

Nonenvenomation, ie, dry bite (probably occurs in < 10% of rattlesnake bites)

• Local effects - Puncture wounds only
• Systemic effects - None
• Coagulation abnormalities - No laboratory evidence of coagulation abnormalities and no clinical evidence of abnormal bleeding or clotting

Minimal or mild envenomation

• Local effects - Swelling, pain, tenderness, and/or ecchymosis confined to the immediate bite area
• Systemic effects - None
• Coagulation abnormalities - No laboratory evidence of coagulation abnormalities and no clinical evidence of abnormal bleeding or clotting

Moderate envenomation

• Local effects - Swelling, pain, tenderness, and/or ecchymosis extending beyond the immediate bite area but involving less than the entire part
• Systemic effects - Present but not life threatening; may include nausea, vomiting, oral paresthesias or unusual tastes, fasciculations (myokymia), mild hypotension (systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg), mild tachycardia (heart rate < 150 bpm), and tachypnea
• Coagulation abnormalities - Laboratory evidence of coagulation abnormalities may be present, but no clinical evidence of abnormal bleeding or clotting exists; rattlesnake venom–induced coagulopathies commonly include thrombocytopenia, decreased fibrinogen, and/or elevated PT

Severe envenomation

• Local effects - Swelling, pain, tenderness, and/or ecchymosis extending beyond the entire extremity or threatening the airway
• Systemic effects - May include severe hypotension or shock, severe tachycardia or tachypnea, respiratory insufficiency, and/or severe altered mental status
• Coagulation abnormalities - Markedly abnormal with serious bleeding or severe threat of bleeding

• The American Association of Poison Control Centers may assist in the management of envenomations.
• For assistance in treating snakebitten patients with crotaline Fab antivenom (CroFab), contact the CroFab hotline at 87-SERPDRUG (877-377-3784).