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Published:
Aug 11, 2021Keywords:
Boomslang bite; monovalent antivenom; haemotoxic envenomation; snake bite; rotational; thromboelastometry (ROTEM).
Article Details
Issue
Section
Scientific Letters
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Main Article Content
A case report of detecting subclinical coagulopathy in a patient with boomslang (<i>Dipholidus typus</i>) bite
Mungela J. Tambwe
Vidya Lalloo
Andreas Engelbrecht
Pholosho Pelle
Abstract
The boomslang (Dipholidus typus) has a predominantly haemotoxic venom. Because of the consumptive nature of the coagulopathy, signs and symptoms are usually delayed by up to 72 h after the bite. Traditional laboratory coagulation assays have a long turnaround time, by which time the patient’s bleeding and clotting profile has changed. A 25-year-old male patient was bitten by a boomslang. Despite two normal laboratory coagulation assay results, a point-of-care rotational thromboelastometry showed low fibrinogen levels, leading to the administration of monovalent antivenom. This report highlights the value of point-of-care thromboelastometry in the care of patients with subclinical boomslang envenomation.
