[A real-world study of low molecular weight heparin sodium in the treatment of severe and critical bite by Trimeresurus stejnegeri].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical effect of low molecular weight heparin sodium combined with antivenin in the treatment of severe and critical bite by Trimeresurus stejnegeri.

METHODS

The clinical data of 48 patients with severe or critical bite by Trimeresurus stejnegeri admitted to emergency department of Southeast Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University from March 2017 to May 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. On the basis of early treatment of antivenom serum, internal administration and external application of Jidesheng snake tablet, and wound incision and detoxification, the patients were divided into heparin treatment group and non-heparin treatment group according to whether the low molecular heparin sodium was used or not. The patients in the two groups were compared in terms of gender, age, clinical classification, swelling degree of injured limbs, change of coagulation function index, bleeding of skin, mucous membrane or digestive tract, blood transfusion, local symptoms of bite, length of hospital stay and prognosis.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in terms of gender, age, clinical classification or swelling degree of injured limbs between the two groups. On the 3rd day of treatment, the platelet count (PLT) in the heparin treatment group was significantly higher than that in the non-heparin treatment group [×10/L: 210.0 (160.0, 252.0) vs. 136.0 (104.0, 198.5), P < 0.05]. However, there was no significant difference in the four coagulation test results between the two groups. On the 6th day of treatment, the plasma thrombin time (TT) in the heparin treatment group was significantly shorter than that on the 3rd day of treatment [s: 30.3 (20.4, 37.0) vs. 34.7 (24.0, 73.4), P < 0.05], and the fibrinogen (FIB) in the heparin treatment group was significantly higher than that in the non-heparin treatment group [g/L: 0.60 (0.31, 1.07) vs. 0.20 (0.14, 0.60), P < 0.01]. The incidence of bleeding in the heparin treatment group was significantly lower than that in the non-heparin treatment group [21.7% (5/23) vs. 64.0% (16/25), P < 0.01]; 11 patients in the heparin treatment group and 18 patients in the non-heparin treatment group received blood transfusion and prothrombin complex supplement respectively. There was no significant difference in the length of hospital stay between the heparin group and non-heparin treatment group (days: 6.91±1.92 vs. 7.48±2.27, P > 0.05). The patients in both groups were followed up for 1 week to 1 month after treatment, and no death or local necrosis of skin and soft tissue was found.

CONCLUSIONS

For the patients with severe and critical bite by Trimeresurus stejnegeri, on the basis of injection of antivenom serum, internal administration and external application of Jidesheng snake tablet, and wound incision and detoxification, early application of low molecular weight heparin sodium anticoagulation and other comprehensive treatment is helpful to improve limb swelling and inflammation, reduce blood transfusion, promote the recovery of coagulation function, and shorten the length of hospitalization.