[Clinical application of VSD negative pressure aspiration and detoxification in severe snake bite]

To assess the clinical efficacy of vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) in the treatment of mixed poisonous snake bite.

A prospective study was conducted. Forty-three snake bite patients by mixed poisonous snakes admitted to Department of Emergency of the 175th Hospital of People's Liberation Army from February 2015 to February 2017 were enrolled. All patients were divided into routine treatment group (n = 20) and VSD treatment group (n = 23) according to whether early incision decompression and using the VSD technique. The patients in the routine treatment group were treated with injection of antivenoms, Jidesheng snake tablets external coating, and wound incision detoxification. Beside the routine treatments, patients in the VSD treatment group were treated with incision decompression and the VSD suction aspiration for the swelling limb. Bite wound infection rate, local skin necrosis area, maximum level of C-reactive protein (CRP), length of hospital stay and disability rate were compared between the two groups.

Forty-three patients were followed up for 6-12 months with average of (10.3±1.4) months postoperatively. There were no deaths in both groups. Compared with the routine treatment group, wound infection rate in the VSD treatment group was significantly lowered [8.7% (2/23) vs. 40.0% (8/20)], local skin necrosis area was significantly reduced (cm²: 4.2±0.8 vs. 6.0±1.3), the maximum CRP was significantly lowered (mg/L: 50.0±12.1 vs. 68.0±13.4), the hospitalization time was significantly shortened (days: 11.7±2.9 vs. 17.7±4.9), and the difference above was statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The disability rate of the VSD treatment group was lowered as compared with routine treatment group [13.0% (3/23) vs. 13.0% (6/20)] without statistically significant difference.

Early incision decompression and VSD pressure suction of the swelling limb associated with combination therapy of drugs is a reliable and effective method for severe snakebite, and can promote physical rehabilitation and shorten hospital stay.