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This repository contains the published and unpublished research of the Faculty of Medicine by the staff members of the faculty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 Envenoming due to snake bite during pregnancy(Oxford University Press, 2002) Seneviratne, S.L.; de Silva, C.E.; Fonseka, M.M.D.; Pathmeswaran, A.; Gunatilake, S.B.; de Silva, H.J.No Abstract AvailableItem 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 Use of antivenom serum in snake bite: a prospective study of hospital practice in the Gampaha district(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2000) Seneviratne, S.L.; Opanayaka, C.J.; Ratnayake, N.S L.A.; Sarathkumara, K.E.; Sugathadasa, A.M.; Weerasuriya, N.; Wickrama, W.A.S.S.; Gunatilake, S.B.; de Silva, H.J.OBJECTIVE: To record current practices in hospital management of snake bite, especially with regard to use of antivenom serum (AVS). METHODS: Management of all snake bite victims admitted to the four main hospitals of the Gampaha district was prospectively studied during a 5-month period. A pretested data collection sheet was used. Relevant information was obtained from patients, accompanying persons, medical staff and hospital records. RESULTS: 466 patients (M:F = 7:3; 402 adults and 64 children) were admitted following snake bite during the study. The offending snake was identified in 357 (76.6 percent) cases [172 (36.9percent) by examining the dead snake, 185 by identification of the snake in a photograph]. 273 (76.5 percent) of the 357 admissions were due to hump nosed viper bite. AVS was given to 184 (39.5 percent) patients, including 99 (36.3 percent) with hump nosed viper bite. A sensitivity test of AVS was used in all 184 patients. Premedication with hydrocortisone and/or antihistamines before AVS infusion was given to 89 patients. Acute adverse reactions to AVS occurred in 102 (55.4 percent) patients given AVS. There was no significant difference in the rate of reactions whether premedication was given or not. CONCLUSION: Precise identification of the offending snake was not possible in many instances. Practices that are of no benefit in the treatment of snake bite are still widely used. Acute adverse reactions to AVS are common, and neither hydrocortisone nor antihistamines seem to be of benefit as prophylaxis. Evidence based management guidelines, especially with regard to AVS therapy, are urgently required.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.Item Lack of myocardial damage following Sri Lankan Russell's viper and hump-nosed viper bites(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 1999) Seneviratne, S.L.; Gunatilake, S.B.; Fonseka, M.M.D.; Adhikari, A.A.D.N.W.; de Silva, H.J.INTRODUCTION: Cardiac effects following the bite of Burmese Russell's vipers and European vipers are well known. The question whether envenomation caused by Sri Lankan viper bites results in myocardial damage remains largely unanswered. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate whether myocardial damage occurs after Sri Lankan viper bites, using a highly specific and sensitive marker, troponin T. METHODS: 45 patients admitted after a definite viper bite [Russell's viper (RV), n = 13, hump-nosed viper (HNV), n = 32] were studied with regard to cardiac symptoms, ECG changes, and troponin T levels. There were no admissions with bites of other types of Sri Lankan vipers during the study period. RESULTS: Cardiac symptoms were present in a number of patients following the bite. Two patients had transient ECG changes. However, troponin T levels were not elevated in any of them. COMMENT: Myocardial damage does not seem to be an important feature of Sri Lankan Russell's and hump-nosed viper bites. This may be because of venom heterogeneity in vipers, that is based on their geographical distribution.Item Excessive fibrinolysis: the coagulopathy following Merrem's hump-nosed viper( Hypnale hypnale) bites(1998) Premawardhena, A.P.; Seneviratne, S.L.; Gunatilake, S.B.; de Silva, H.J.In 56 patients with proven hump-nosed viper (Hypnale hypnale) bites, 12 (21.4 percent) developed continued oozing of blood from the site of the bite and a prolonged clotting time. Further investigations showed low fibrinogen levels and increased fibrinogen degradation products in plamsa. The bleeding time, platelet count, prothrombin time, and partial thromboplastin time with kaolin were normal. The bite of this snake can be complicated with a coagulopathy in which excessive fibrinolysis seems to be the main abnormalityItem Coagulopathy and fibrinoloysis following the bite of a hump-nosed viper (Hypnale hypnale)(Oxford University Press, 1996) Premawardhena, A.P.; Seneviratne, S.L.; Gunatilake, S.B.; de Silva, H.J.No Abstract Available