Snake venom poisoning is a medical emergency that requires urgent ther
apeutic procedures. The treatment of venomous snakebites is still cont
roversial because of unclear therapeutic modalities. Choice of treatme
nt is dictated in part by regional characteristics with regard to pati
ent population and types of venomous snakes. The purpose of the study
presented here was to report regional experience with venomous snakebi
tes and to describe first-aid, pre-hospital, and hospital therapeutic
procedures for horned viper bite. During a 16-year period, from 1980 t
o 1996, at the Clinical Hospital Split (Croatia) we collected data on
389 victims of horned viper bite. Incidence of the local and general c
omplications is presented. We also reviewed therapeutic modalities and
outcome with special attention to compartment syndromes and the indic
ations for fasciotomy.