Haematological Profile in Vasculotoxic Snake Bite Patients Admitted at Tertiary Health Care Center

Introduction: Snakebite is a significant medical emergency in India, particularly affecting rural populations. Vasculotoxic envenomation, mainly due to vipers, leads to systemic complications like coagulopathies, renal failure, and hemorrhage. The present study aimed to evaluate the hematological and coagulation profile of vasculotoxic snakebite patients and assess their outcomes. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included 215 patients admitted with vasculotoxic snakebites. Clinical history, hematological parameters, and coagulation profiles were assessed before and 12 hours after anti-snake venom (ASV) administration using standard methods, including bleeding time, whole blood clotting time (WBCT), prothrombin time (PT), and international normalized ratio (INR). Results: Most patients were males (71.1%) and aged between 41–60 years (41.8%). Russell’s viper accounted for 54.41% of bites, with lower limb being the most common site (61.8%). All patients presented with cellulitis; 63.25% developed acute kidney injury (AKI), and 68.38% of those required dialysis. Before ASV, 98.13% had prolonged WBCT (>20 mins), 93.9% had PT >14 secs, and 93.9% had INR >1.5—indicating significant coagulopathy. After ASV, 97.2% showed normalized WBCT, 76.7% had PT <14 secs, and 76.7% had INR <1.5. Platelet counts were <1,00,000 in 74.87% of patients, with 18.6% below 50,000. Conclusion: Vasculotoxic snakebites are frequently associated with coagulation disturbances and AKI. Timely identification of these complications through comprehensive hematological and coagulation profiling is crucial. Early administration of ASV plays a vital role in correcting coagulation abnormalities and improving clinical outcomes.