The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences has a handout, “A Guide to Identifying the Copperhead,” with more beautiful pictures of this animal (https://files.nc.gov/ncparks/copperhead-field-id-guide.pdf).
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ACEP Now: Vol 40 – No 09 – September 2021Big thanks to Dr. Sean Bush for providing the snake for my pictures
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One Response to “Tox Q&A Answer: Venom Dilemma”
October 1, 2021
Patrick SnowmanHey Jason. Patrick Snowman, MD, FAAEM from Hilton Head. I treat at least 15 copperhead bites a year times 18 year….i.e. a lot since moving down here from New England where there are essentially no poisonous snakes. The treatment seems to have morphed from automatic admission and 4 to 6 viles up front and 6 more vials every 6 hours over 18 hours to much less than that and discharge from ED if very well controlled, of course with the appropriate lab work etc .
I find the SC poison control center (for whom I have huge accolades!!) tend to be Uber conservative with copperhead tx and wondering what your actual practice guidance/pattern is.
I’m really talking lower, lower extremity injuries not hands or other edge cases. I do find that keeping patients advocate non weight bearing for at least 48 to 72 hours is very important as well as elevation etc, but feel that most patients after 4 to 6 viles of CroFab are good to go. What are your thoughts.