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Prolonged defibrination after a bite from a 'nonvenomous' snake.
JAMA
|February 17, 1984
Summary
The red neck keelback snake (Rhabdophis subminatus), often sold as a pet, can cause severe bleeding disorders. Medical professionals should be aware of this snake
Area of Science:
- Herpetology
- Toxicology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- The classification of snakes as harmless or dangerous to humans can be ambiguous.
- Rhabdophis subminatus, the red neck keelback, is legally sold in the United States as a pet snake.
Observation:
- A patient was bitten by a red neck keelback snake presumed to be harmless.
- The bite resulted in a severe coagulopathy, characterized by life-threatening hemorrhage.
Findings:
- The patient's coagulopathy was unresponsive to standard blood transfusions.
- The study aims to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanism behind the snake's venom-induced coagulopathy.
Implications:
- Alerts the medical community to the potential danger of the red neck keelback.
- Highlights the need for updated clinical protocols for treating envenomation by this species.
- Underscores the importance of accurate snake identification and risk assessment in clinical practice.