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Updated: Jul 11, 2025

A Murine Model of Cervical Spinal Cord Injury to Study Post-lesional Respiratory Neuroplasticity
Published on: May 28, 2014
Early-Onset Respiratory Muscle Paralysis in Crotalic Envenomation: A Case Study
Juliana Sartorelo Almeida1, Felipe Carvalhaes Possas1, Adebal de Andrade Filho1
1Hospital João XXIII, Centro de Informação e Assistência Toxicológica de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Abstract:
Crotalic envenomation is responsible for approximately 8%-13% of ophidism cases in Brazil, yet it is associated with the highest mortality among snakes. We describe the case of a patient bitten by a rattlesnake who developed ventilatory muscle paralysis within hours after envenomation. While diaphragmatic paralysis is a rare late neurotoxic event following crotalic envenomation, in this case, paralysis occurred early but was rapidly reversed after antivenom administration. This report discusses potential contributing factors based on a comprehensive literature review.
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