Reversible Brain Death: A Rare Manifestation of Snake Envenomation

Snakebite is a serious public health problem and one of the priorities in WHO's list of neglected tropical diseases. It significantly increases morbidity and mortality associated with envenomation in India. A neurotoxic snakebite can present in the form of symptoms ranging from asymptomatic pre...

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Main Authors: Ankusha Patra, Vrinda Goel, Shiva Narang, Amitesh Aggarwal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2023-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Medical Specialities
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/injms.injms_125_22
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author Ankusha Patra
Vrinda Goel
Shiva Narang
Amitesh Aggarwal
author_facet Ankusha Patra
Vrinda Goel
Shiva Narang
Amitesh Aggarwal
author_sort Ankusha Patra
collection DOAJ
description Snakebite is a serious public health problem and one of the priorities in WHO's list of neglected tropical diseases. It significantly increases morbidity and mortality associated with envenomation in India. A neurotoxic snakebite can present in the form of symptoms ranging from asymptomatic presentation, ptosis, and complete external and internal ophthalmoplegia to complete respiratory failure. This is a case report of a 22-year-old male, who presented with bilateral ptosis and impending respiratory failure. He soon became deeply comatose, with absent brain stem reflexes (mute plantar, fixed pupils, and the absence of the doll's eye reflex) which were suggestive of brain death. He was treated with polyvalent anti-snake venom, anticholinesterases, and supportive therapy and recovered completely with an excellent outcome.
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institution Kabale University
issn 0976-2884
0976-2892
language English
publishDate 2023-01-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
record_format Article
series Indian Journal of Medical Specialities
spelling doaj-art-5782f5e11d874ff3b51ec494382ecea52025-08-25T08:43:30ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Medical Specialities0976-28840976-28922023-01-01141505210.4103/injms.injms_125_22Reversible Brain Death: A Rare Manifestation of Snake EnvenomationAnkusha PatraVrinda GoelShiva NarangAmitesh AggarwalSnakebite is a serious public health problem and one of the priorities in WHO's list of neglected tropical diseases. It significantly increases morbidity and mortality associated with envenomation in India. A neurotoxic snakebite can present in the form of symptoms ranging from asymptomatic presentation, ptosis, and complete external and internal ophthalmoplegia to complete respiratory failure. This is a case report of a 22-year-old male, who presented with bilateral ptosis and impending respiratory failure. He soon became deeply comatose, with absent brain stem reflexes (mute plantar, fixed pupils, and the absence of the doll's eye reflex) which were suggestive of brain death. He was treated with polyvalent anti-snake venom, anticholinesterases, and supportive therapy and recovered completely with an excellent outcome.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/injms.injms_125_22anticholinesteraseanti-snake venombrain deathsnakebite
spellingShingle Ankusha Patra
Vrinda Goel
Shiva Narang
Amitesh Aggarwal
Reversible Brain Death: A Rare Manifestation of Snake Envenomation
Indian Journal of Medical Specialities
anticholinesterase
anti-snake venom
brain death
snakebite
title Reversible Brain Death: A Rare Manifestation of Snake Envenomation
title_full Reversible Brain Death: A Rare Manifestation of Snake Envenomation
title_fullStr Reversible Brain Death: A Rare Manifestation of Snake Envenomation
title_full_unstemmed Reversible Brain Death: A Rare Manifestation of Snake Envenomation
title_short Reversible Brain Death: A Rare Manifestation of Snake Envenomation
title_sort reversible brain death a rare manifestation of snake envenomation
topic anticholinesterase
anti-snake venom
brain death
snakebite
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/injms.injms_125_22
work_keys_str_mv AT ankushapatra reversiblebraindeathararemanifestationofsnakeenvenomation
AT vrindagoel reversiblebraindeathararemanifestationofsnakeenvenomation
AT shivanarang reversiblebraindeathararemanifestationofsnakeenvenomation
AT amiteshaggarwal reversiblebraindeathararemanifestationofsnakeenvenomation