Page 119 - JSOM Winter 2021

(photo above) “If you are getting involved in snakebite for (photos above and below) The patient below was bitten by a Rhinoceros
money, you should know that there is no money to be made. Viper (Bitis nasicornis). These snakes rarely exceed 1 meter in length but
But if you want to make a real difference - help your people, have wide heads with large venom glands that enable them to inject
save lives, prevent disability, and advance science - then you massive doses of a potent cytotoxic and hemotoxic venom. Rhinoceros
have found the right project.” Viper venom can induce a profound hypotension and many patients die
of cardiovascular collapse in the first hours after a bite.
— Dr Cellou Balde, Founder & Director of ASF Guinea Clinic
Photos compliments of Jordan Benjamin, Asclepius Snakebite Foundation.
Photo compliments of Thomas Nicolon, Asclepius Snakebite Foundation.

(photo right) The leg of a young
man who arrived at the ASF Guinea
clinic 18 hours after suffering a
Rhinoceros Viper (Bitis nasicornis)
bite to his left foot. Signs of the
cytotoxic syndrome (swelling,
blistering, extensive tissue
destruction) and hemotoxic
syndrome (persistent bleeding
and bruising along the bitten
limb) are clearly visible. This
patient was critically ill upon
arrival but ultimately made a full
recovery after receiving antivenom
and aggressive supportive care.
Photo compliments of Dr Nick Brandehoff, Asclepius Snakebite Foundation.

(photo right) Dried venom
samples collected from
(photos above) Dr Mohammed Cire Diallo, head clinician at the hundreds of snakes over
ASF Guinea clinic, supervises an i-Gel airway lab as part of an the years by Dr Mamadou
intensive resuscitation training conducted in February of 2020 in Cellou Baldé, founder
response to a surge in serious neurotoxic bites earlier in the year. and director of the
Many of these supplies were donated by US Special Operations ASF Guinea clinic.
medics who worked with the ASF team to develop the new Photo compliments of
snakebite CPGs. Dr Nick Brandehoff,
Asclepius Snakebite
Photos compliments of Jordan Benjamin, Asclepius Snakebite Foundation.
Foundation.

(photo left) Dr Nick (photo left) ASF
Brandehoff hands a founder Jordan
syringe containing 2 Benjamin administers
vials of reconstituted a dose of reconstituted
antivenom to Jordan polyvalent antivenom
Benjamin at the ASF by slow intravenous
snakebite clinic in push to a woman.
Kindia, Guinea.
Photo compliments of Photo compliments of
Aziz Baldé, Asclepius
Aziz Baldé, Asclepius Snakebite Foundation.
Snakebite Foundation.