Rattlesnake Envenomations Treated Without Antivenom

A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine.The standard treatment for rattlesnake envenomation (RSE) is antivenom. The clinical course of patients treated with antivenom is well described. Prior to 2000, only a whole IgG AV (IgGAV) associated with high rates of hypersensitivity reactions (HSS) was available to treat RSE. Since 2000, Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (FabAV), which has a better safety profile than IgGAV, has been primarily used. Patients with RSE may not be treated with AV for a variety of reasons including history or perceived risk of HSS, patient refusal, drug shortage, or clinical impression that AV is not indicated. Research Question: What outcomes are associated with moderate to severe RSEs treated without antivenom?This item is part of the College of Medicine - Phoenix Scholarly Projects 2018 collection. For more information, contact the Phoenix Biomedical Campus Library at pbc-library@email.arizona.edu