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Snake Envenomation, Sea: Multimedia

Author: Dimitrios Papanagnou, MD, MPH, Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Bellevue Hospital Center
Coauthor(s): Susi U Vassallo, MD, FACEP, FACMT, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, New York University School of Medicine/Bellevue Hospital Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Nov 6, 2008

Multimedia

Technique for application of pressure immobilizat...
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Media file 1: Technique for application of pressure immobilization in field management of sea snake bites. See Image 2 for Figures 4-6. Figure 1, Apply a broad-pressure bandage over the bite site as soon as possible. Do not take off jeans because the movement of doing so assists venom to enter the bloodstream. Keep the bitten leg still. Figure 2, The bandage should be as tight as would be applied to a sprained ankle. Figure 3, Extend the bandage as high as possible.
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Technique for application of pressure immobilizat...

Technique for application of pressure immobilization in field management of sea snake bites. See Image 2 for Figures 4-6. Figure 1, Apply a broad-pressure bandage over the bite site as soon as possible. Do not take off jeans because the movement of doing so assists venom to enter the bloodstream. Keep the bitten leg still. Figure 2, The bandage should be as tight as would be applied to a sprained ankle. Figure 3, Extend the bandage as high as possible.

Technique for application of pressure immobilizat...
(Enlarge Image)
Media file 2: Technique for application of pressure immobilization in field management of sea snake bites. See Image 1 for Figures 1-3. Figure 4, Apply a splint to the leg. Figure 5, Bind the splint firmly to as much of the leg as possible. If the bandages and splint are applied correctly, they will be comfortable and may be left on for several hours. They should not be taken off until the patient has reached medical care. The doctor will decide when to remove the bandages. If venom has been injected, it will move into the bloodstream quickly once the bandages are removed. The doctor should leave the bandages and splint in position until he or she has assembled appropriate antivenom and drugs that may need to be used when the dressings and splint are removed. Figure 6, For bites on a hand or forearm, bind to the elbow with bandages, use a splint to the elbow, and use a sling.
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Technique for application of pressure immobilizat...

Technique for application of pressure immobilization in field management of sea snake bites. See Image 1 for Figures 1-3. Figure 4, Apply a splint to the leg. Figure 5, Bind the splint firmly to as much of the leg as possible. If the bandages and splint are applied correctly, they will be comfortable and may be left on for several hours. They should not be taken off until the patient has reached medical care. The doctor will decide when to remove the bandages. If venom has been injected, it will move into the bloodstream quickly once the bandages are removed. The doctor should leave the bandages and splint in position until he or she has assembled appropriate antivenom and drugs that may need to be used when the dressings and splint are removed. Figure 6, For bites on a hand or forearm, bind to the elbow with bandages, use a splint to the elbow, and use a sling.

Yellow-belly pelagic sea snake.
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Media file 3: Yellow-belly pelagic sea snake.
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Yellow-belly pelagic sea snake.

Yellow-belly pelagic sea snake.

More on Snake Envenomation, Sea

Overview: Snake Envenomation, Sea
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Snake Envenomation, Sea
Treatment & Medication: Snake Envenomation, Sea
Follow-up: Snake Envenomation, Sea
Multimedia: Snake Envenomation, Sea
References
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References

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  2. Ditmars RL. The MacMillan Company. Reptiles of the World, Revised Edition. 1933:329, pp 89.

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  4. Auerbach PS. Marine envenomations. In: Auerbach PS, ed. Wilderness Medicine: Management of Wilderness and Environmental Emergencies. 3rd ed. Mosby-Year Book; 1995:1327-74.

  5. Baxter EH, Gallichio HA. Cross-neutralization by tiger snake (Notechis scutatus) antivenene and sea snake (Enhydrina schistosa) antivenene against several sea snake venoms. Toxicon. May 1974;12(3):273-8. [Medline].

  6. Chetty N, Du A, Hodgson WC, et al. The in vitro neuromuscular activity of Indo-Pacific sea-snake venoms: efficacy of two commercially available antivenoms. Toxicon. Aug 2004;44(2):193-200. [Medline].

  7. Dunson WA. The Biology of Sea Snakes. Baltimore, Md: University Park Press; 1975.

  8. Guenin DG, Auerbach PS. Trauma and envenomations from marine fauna. In: Tintinalli, et al, eds. Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 4th ed. McGraw-Hill; 1996:868-73.

  9. Heatwole H. Sea Snakes. Krieger Publishing Company; 1999.

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  12. Reid HA. Antivenom in sea-snake bit poisoning. Lancet. Mar 15 1975;1(7907):622-3. [Medline].

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  15. Senanayake MP, Ariaratnam CA, Abeywickrema S. Two Sri Lankan cases of identified sea snake bites, without envenoming. Toxicon. Jun 1 2005;45(7):861-3. [Medline].

  16. Tu AT. Biotoxicology of sea snake venoms. Ann Emerg Med. Sep 1987;16(9):1023-8. [Medline].

  17. Tu AT, Fulde G. Sea snake bites. Clin Dermatol. Jul-Sep 1987;5(3):118-26. [Medline].

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Further Reading

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Keywords

sea snake envenomation, sea snake bite, sea snakes, snake bite, Hydrophiidae, Pelamis platurus, P platurus, Enhydrina schistosa, E schistosa, sea snake venom, neurotoxins, myotoxins, snake envenomations, sea snake neurotoxin, sea snake wound

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Dimitrios Papanagnou, MD, MPH, Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Bellevue Hospital Center
Dimitrios Papanagnou, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Medical Student Association/Foundation, and Emergency Medicine Residents Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Susi U Vassallo, MD, FACEP, FACMT, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, New York University School of Medicine/Bellevue Hospital Center
Susi U Vassallo, MD, FACEP, FACMT is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Medical Toxicology, New York Academy of Medicine, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Robert L Norris, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery; Chief, Division of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center
Robert L Norris, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, California Medical Association, International Society of Toxinology, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and Wilderness Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

John T VanDeVoort, PharmD, Regional Director of Pharmacy, Sacred Heart & St. Joseph's Hospitals
John T VanDeVoort, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

James Steven Walker, DO, MS, Clinical Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
James Steven Walker, DO, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians, and American Osteopathic Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

John D Halamka, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Jonathan Adler, MD, Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital; Division of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Jonathan Adler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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