COAGULATION PARAMETERS AS PREDICTORS OF OUTCOMES IN SNAKE BITE ENVENOMATION: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY IN RURAL INDIA

Abstract

Snake bites are a serious concern in rural areas and are a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) and Prothrombin Time (PT), in particular, are the focus of this study's investigation of the association between coagulation parameters and the consequences of snake bite envenomation.

Materials and Methods: At Krishna Institute Medical Sciences, Karad, 100 patients who had been admitted with snake bites to the Medical Intensive Care Unit were the subject of an 18-month prospective study (November 2020–April 2022). The study looked at coagulation factors, clinical characteristics, and consequences. Statistical analysis methods, such as t-tests and chi-square tests, were used with OpenEpi Software version 2.3 and SPSS version 21.

Results: Vipers were to blame for 80% of the bites among the 100 patients, mostly on the lower limbs (78%). In 85% of the cases, there were fang marks, and in 56% of them, there was bleeding. Renal failure (26.7%) and cellulitis (13.3%) were among the complications (30%). In 80% and 70% of difficult cases, respectively, prolonged APTT and PT were noted. All of the deaths had extended APTT and PT, with a mortality rate of 7%.

Conclusion: Prolonged APTT and PT at appearance were related to issues and death, highlighting their importance as indicators of how a snake bite envenomation will turn out. Health care professionals use coagulation measures like APTT and PT as crucial markers to help them make decisions and improve patient outcomes.