Wednesday June 16, 1999 - Question 5

Which of the following statements regarding the treatment of rattlesnake envenomation is correct?

A. Surgery, involving excision of the bitten area and fasciotomy to relieve compartmental pressures of an extremity is a standard treatment approach.

B. Antibiotics are routinely necessary following a rattlesnake bite due the high incidence of wound infection.

C. Corticosteroids and antihistamines should be routinely administered to decrease the severity of local tissue damage.

D. Crotalid antivenin should be given prophylactically to all patients with a suspected rattlesnake bite.

E. Platelet transfusions, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, and packed red cells may be necessary after administration of antivenin.
 

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