The Treatment of Snake Bites in a First Aid Setting: A Systematic Review.
<h4>Background</h4>The worldwide burden of snakebite is high, especially in remote regions with lesser accessibility to professional healthcare. Therefore, adequate first aid for snakebite is of the utmost importance. A wide range of different first aid techniques have been described in...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2016-10-01
|
| Series: | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005079 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1839647511492427776 |
|---|---|
| author | Bert Avau Vere Borra Philippe Vandekerckhove Emmy De Buck |
| author_facet | Bert Avau Vere Borra Philippe Vandekerckhove Emmy De Buck |
| author_sort | Bert Avau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>The worldwide burden of snakebite is high, especially in remote regions with lesser accessibility to professional healthcare. Therefore, adequate first aid for snakebite is of the utmost importance. A wide range of different first aid techniques have been described in literature, and are being used in practice. This systematic review aimed to summarize the best available evidence concerning effective and feasible first aid techniques for snakebite.<h4>Methods</h4>A systematic literature screening, performed independently by two authors in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and Embase resulted in 14 studies, fulfilling our predefined selection criteria, concerning first aid techniques for snakebite management. Data was extracted and the body of evidence was appraised according to the GRADE approach.<h4>Principal findings</h4>The pressure immobilization technique was identified as the only evidence-based first aid technique with effectiveness on venom spread. However, additional studies suggest that proper application of this technique is not feasible for laypeople. Evidence concerning other first aid measures, such as the application of a tourniquet, suggests avoiding the use of these techniques.<h4>Conclusions</h4>The practical recommendation for the treatment of snakebite in a first aid setting is to immobilize the victim, while awaiting the emergency services. However, given the low to very low quality of the data collected, high quality randomized controlled trials concerning the efficacy and feasibility of different variations of the pressure immobilization technique are warranted. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fd1c802d2b224b0b8683c04b79a5ff0f |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 1935-2727 1935-2735 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-10-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-fd1c802d2b224b0b8683c04b79a5ff0f2025-06-30T05:32:58ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352016-10-011010e000507910.1371/journal.pntd.0005079The Treatment of Snake Bites in a First Aid Setting: A Systematic Review.Bert AvauVere BorraPhilippe VandekerckhoveEmmy De Buck<h4>Background</h4>The worldwide burden of snakebite is high, especially in remote regions with lesser accessibility to professional healthcare. Therefore, adequate first aid for snakebite is of the utmost importance. A wide range of different first aid techniques have been described in literature, and are being used in practice. This systematic review aimed to summarize the best available evidence concerning effective and feasible first aid techniques for snakebite.<h4>Methods</h4>A systematic literature screening, performed independently by two authors in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and Embase resulted in 14 studies, fulfilling our predefined selection criteria, concerning first aid techniques for snakebite management. Data was extracted and the body of evidence was appraised according to the GRADE approach.<h4>Principal findings</h4>The pressure immobilization technique was identified as the only evidence-based first aid technique with effectiveness on venom spread. However, additional studies suggest that proper application of this technique is not feasible for laypeople. Evidence concerning other first aid measures, such as the application of a tourniquet, suggests avoiding the use of these techniques.<h4>Conclusions</h4>The practical recommendation for the treatment of snakebite in a first aid setting is to immobilize the victim, while awaiting the emergency services. However, given the low to very low quality of the data collected, high quality randomized controlled trials concerning the efficacy and feasibility of different variations of the pressure immobilization technique are warranted.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005079 |
| spellingShingle | Bert Avau Vere Borra Philippe Vandekerckhove Emmy De Buck The Treatment of Snake Bites in a First Aid Setting: A Systematic Review. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| title | The Treatment of Snake Bites in a First Aid Setting: A Systematic Review. |
| title_full | The Treatment of Snake Bites in a First Aid Setting: A Systematic Review. |
| title_fullStr | The Treatment of Snake Bites in a First Aid Setting: A Systematic Review. |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Treatment of Snake Bites in a First Aid Setting: A Systematic Review. |
| title_short | The Treatment of Snake Bites in a First Aid Setting: A Systematic Review. |
| title_sort | treatment of snake bites in a first aid setting a systematic review |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005079 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bertavau thetreatmentofsnakebitesinafirstaidsettingasystematicreview AT vereborra thetreatmentofsnakebitesinafirstaidsettingasystematicreview AT philippevandekerckhove thetreatmentofsnakebitesinafirstaidsettingasystematicreview AT emmydebuck thetreatmentofsnakebitesinafirstaidsettingasystematicreview AT bertavau treatmentofsnakebitesinafirstaidsettingasystematicreview AT vereborra treatmentofsnakebitesinafirstaidsettingasystematicreview AT philippevandekerckhove treatmentofsnakebitesinafirstaidsettingasystematicreview AT emmydebuck treatmentofsnakebitesinafirstaidsettingasystematicreview |