The role of fresh frozen plasma in reducing the volume of anti-snake venom in snakebite envenomation

Snakebite associated with a venom-induced consumption coagulopathy (VICC) is a major public health problem. Our study aims to evaluate if fresh frozen plasma (FFP), administered after anti-snake venom (ASV), restores coagulability rapidly. At admission, all snakebite victims with a whole blood clotting time (WBCT)>20min received ten vials of ASV according to World Health Organization criteria. After 6h, at the discretion of the physician, patients with WBCT>20min were divided into two groups. The test group received both ASV and FFP and the control group received ASV only. The mean number of ASVs used in tests and controls were 17 and 31, respectively. The clotting time normalised at 24h and 42h in the test group and control group, respectively. FFP appears to aid restoration of clotting factors more rapidly and thus haemorrhage and the number of anti-snake venom vials used are both reduced.