In recent years, the Intensive Care Unit - Poison Control (ICU) of Khanh Hoa General Hospital has regularly received cases of patients bitten by green pit vipers, especially red-tailed green pit vipers.
Among them, many cases progressed severely and critically, forcing doctors to deploy many specialized techniques to fight for the patient's life.
According to doctors in the Intensive Care - Poison Control Department, specific anti-venom serum is still the most important "weapon" in treating patients bitten by venomous snakes.
This type of serum helps neutralize toxins in the blood, prevents widespread bleeding and limits organ damage.
In cases of severe blood clotting disorders, patients with symptoms of thrombocytopenia, appearance of hemorrhagic plaques or loss of blood clotting ability, doctors will perform blood transfusions such as fresh frozen plasma, cold precipitated plasma and platelets to compensate for blood clotting factors destroyed by venom.
In parallel with that, the area bitten by the snake is always closely monitored to control the risk of necrosis and space compression.
When excessive swelling appears causing blood vessel blockage, the doctor will indicate emergency decompression surgery to preserve the patient's limb.
Not only stopping at traditional treatment methods, the Intensive Care - Anti-poison Department has now mastered many modern techniques of the emergency resuscitation specialty.
In cases where venom causes acute kidney failure or septic shock, a continuous blood filtration system (CRRT) is used to replace kidney function, while removing toxins and inflammatory substances from the body.
This is considered a "heavy weapon" in the ICU department in treating critical venomous snake bites cases.
According to records at Khanh Hoa General Hospital, many patients still handle incorrectly immediately after being bitten by snakes, leading to more serious consequences.
The Intensive Care - Poison Control Department warns people to absolutely not apply folk remedies passed down by word of mouth such as cutting wounds to draw blood, tying garoes too tightly or applying leaves, lime, and kitchen ash to bite wounds.
These methods can cause infection, prolonged bleeding, or increase the risk of limb necrosis.
When bitten by a snake, people need to remain calm, quickly immobilize the bitten limb with a splint or loose cloth bandage to limit the spread of venom. At the same time, remove the ring and bracelet before the bitten area becomes swollen...
According to doctors in the Intensive Care - Poison Control Department, the battle with green pit viper venom is a race against time.
Although the hospital has full modern equipment and a team of highly specialized doctors, the most important "key" to saving patients' lives is still calmness and proper handling from the first minutes.
