Medicine
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This repository contains the published and unpublished research of the Faculty of Medicine by the staff members of the faculty
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Item Anti-venom for snake bite in Sri Lanka(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2002) de Silva, H.J.; Fonseka, M.M.D.; Gunatilake, S.B.; Sellahewa, K.H.; Kularatne, S.A.M.No Abstract AvailableItem Safety of subcutaneous adrenaline as prophylaxis against acute adverse reactions to anti-venom serum in snakebite(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2002) Dassanayake, A.S.; Karunanayake, P.; Kasturiratne, K.T.A.A.; Fonseka, M.M.D.; Wijesiriwardena, B.; Gunatilake, S.B.; de Silva, H.J.OBJECTIVES: To study the safety of low dose subcutaneous adrenaline given as prophylaxis against acute adverse reactions to anti-venom serum(AVS) in patients bitten by snakes. METHODS: Patients admitted with snakebite envenoming who satisfied inclusion criteria were given 0.25 ml of 1:1000 adrenaline subcutaneously immediately before administration of AVS. They were observed for adverse effects, and pulse and blood pressure (BP) were monitored. RESULTS: 51 patients [35 males, mean age 34.8 years (SD 14)] were included in the study. Adverse reactions to AVS occurred in 15 (29.4%) patients. There was one death from suspected cerebral haemorrhage, and 3 (5.9%) patients developed small haematomas at the subcutaneous injection site. There were no significant changes in mean pulse or BP following administration of subcutaneous adrenaline. CONCLUSIONS: Low dose subcutaneous adrenaline did not cause significant changes in pulse rate or BP. Although the death was unlikely to be directly related to subcutaneous adrenaline, we suggest further studies on the safety of this prophylactic treatment before its routine use.Item Low dose subcutaneous adrenaline to prevent acute adverse reactions to antivenom serum in people bitten by snakes: randomised, placebo controlled trial(British Medical Association, 1999) Premawardhena, A.P.; de Silva, C.E.; Fonseka, M.M.D.; Gunatilake, S.B.; de Silva, H.J.OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of low dose adrenaline injected subcutaneously to prevent acute adverse reactions to polyspecific antivenom serum in patients admitted to hospital after snake bite. DESIGN: Prospective, double blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial. SETTING: District general hospital in Sri Lanka. SUBJECTS: 105 patients with signs of envenomation after snake bite, randomised to receive either adrenaline (cases) or placebo (controls) immediately before infusion of antivenom serum. INTERVENTIONS: Adrenaline 0.25 ml (1:1000). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Development of acute adverse reactions to serum and side effects attributable to adrenaline. RESULTS: 56 patients (cases) received adrenaline and 49 (controls) received placebo as pretreatment. Six (11percent) adrenaline patients and 21 (43 percent) control patients developed acute adverse reactions to antivenom serum (P=0.0002). Significant reductions in acute adverse reactions to serum were also seen in the adrenaline patients for each category of mild, moderate, and severe reactions. There were no significant adverse effects attributable to adrenaline. CONCLUSIONS: Use of 0.25 ml of 1:1000 adrenaline given subcutaneously immediately before administration of antivenom serum to patients with envenomation after snake bite reduces the incidence of acute adverse reactions to serum.