ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN PATIENTS ENVENOMED FOLLOWING THE BITE OF A PAPUAN TAIPAN (OXYURANUS-SCUTELLATUS-CANNI)

Citation
Aj. Trevett et al., ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN PATIENTS ENVENOMED FOLLOWING THE BITE OF A PAPUAN TAIPAN (OXYURANUS-SCUTELLATUS-CANNI), Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 89(4), 1995, pp. 415-417
Citations number
13
Categorie Soggetti
Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath","Tropical Medicine
ISSN journal
00359203
Volume
89
Issue
4
Year of publication
1995
Pages
415 - 417
Database
ISI
SICI code
0035-9203(1995)89:4<415:EFIPEF>2.0.ZU;2-#
Abstract
Electrophysiological studies were done on patients with systemic neuro toxicity following the bite of a Papuan taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus canni). Evoked compound muscle action potentials decreased and increas ed in tandem with clinical deterioration and recovery. Nerve conductio n velocities did not change in envenomed patients and were consistent with control studies. Repetitive nerve stimulation studies showed decr emental responses in envenomed patients with post-tetanic potentiation followed by post-tetanic exhaustion. The findings are consistent with studies in vitro which suggested that the major action of neurotoxins in Australian taipan venom is at the synapse. The observation that el ectrophysiological data correlate closely with the clinical condition of the patient has potential application in the assessment of interven tions in the management of snake bite victims.