Kingsnake.com
Sean P. Bush, MD, FACEP of Animal Planet's Venom ER
Venom Treatment and Field Research
February 28, 2006
PHFaust: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us at kingsnake.com,
I'm very pleased to welcome Dr. Sean Bush to our Eighth Annual Chat
Week
PHFaust: Best known from Animal Planet's Venom ER, Dr. Bush
is an associate professor of emergency medicine at Loma Linda University
School of Medicine, where he is also on staff in the ER as an emergency
physician and envenomation (venomous animal) specialist. He has had
a lifelong interest in reptiles and venomous creatures. Dr. Bush has
authored over 50 publications on the treatment of bites and stings
and has lectured on the local, national, and international level.
He has been featured in dozens of television documentary productions
on several cable networks in addition to Animal Planet.
PHFaust: Ready to go?
Dr_Sean_Bush: Thank you for inviting me. I'm ready to go.
AggieMan: i was thinkin whats the worst snake bite you've
ever seen, what was the damage done, did the person survive?
Dr_Sean_Bush: You haven't been watching Animal Planet. The
worst case I've seen was the patient who died. 2nd worst: Ralph
AggieMan: From what snake?
Dr_Sean_Bush: Southern Pacific rattlesnake
AggieMan: How long was it until the person received medical
attention?
AggieMan: (yes and sorry I haven't seen your show in a long
time...but when i did watch, it was VERY interesting) Dr_Sean_Bush:
He sought medical care relatively promptly (i.e., within a few hours).
See episode 2 of Venom ER for more on this fatal snakebite. See all
11 episodes - check Animal Planet for show times.
Wolfy-hound:Thank you for coming to answer questions. For
someone that is interested in keeping venomous reptiles, what NON-venomous
snake would you reccomend to get used to the idea of handling the
potentially dangerous venomous species?
Dr_Sean_Bush: I wouldn't recommend handling venomous snakes
at all unless you are prepared to be bitten. My favorite nonvenomous
snake is the cornsnake.
Dr_Sean_Bush: By the way, you can get a venomous snake that is
not venomous dangerous (such as a hognose snake). Actually, Bryan
Fry says they're all venomous. GA
Wolfy-hound:Thank you
Adam105_nr: First of all, thank you for coming tonight! I
am honored to be able to speak to you. Ok, so what got you interested
in venomous snakes originally and what sparked you to take that to
this extent? Also, do you keep any non-venomous snakes in your personal
collection? If so, what species? Pertaining to your show though, is
it frustrating with some people? For example when I saw the lady that
was convinced she had been bit but really wasnt.
Dr_Sean_Bush: It all started when I was about 5 years old
and my grandfather gave me a venomous snake for a pet. (Actually,
it wasn't dangerously venomous, it was a rear-fanged hognose snake.)
Nonetheless, it sparked an interest that has persisted my whole life.
As an intern on pediatric ICU rotation, I followed a patient with
a really severe rattlesnake envenomation. He was on a ventilator for
three weeks and had almost every complication of snakebite possible
and then some. He was one of the sickest patients that I had ever
seen at the time. I was amazed that snakebite could affect so many
organ systems and wreak so much havoc on the human body.
feline89_nr: thanks for coming,it is an honor for me as well,is
it true that venom actually spreads quicker if person moves around
too much after being bitten,or panics?im not sure if i heard that
on you're show or another one
Dr_Sean_Bush: It is true that mobilization enhances systemic
spread of venom. There are pros and cons to this...GA
Reptilefreak16: Hello Dr.Sean Bush, i seen on one of your
episodes, there was a boy that was bitten by a black widow, and was
in alot of pain for obvious reason, and even tho being bit on the
foot(i believe) he swelled up in the face and all over his body. the
parents had to decide weather or not to use the antivenom, cause it
was a major risk. What causes the black widow anti venom, to seem
to have a seemingly higher risk then other antivenoms when giving
to a patient.?
Dr_Sean_Bush: Impurities in the antivenom can lead to life-threatening
side effects, such as anaphylaxis. Many antivenoms have similar risk--some
more, some less. GA
Lakers08_nr: are corn snakes poisionous
Dr_Sean_Bush: Corn snakes aren't considered to be dangerously
venomous; but Bryan Fry has found venom in lots of reptiles where
we previously didn't know it existed. Suggest talk more to BGF about
that. GA
goini04: Dr. Bush, some sources claim that the usage of a
device such as the Sawyer Extractor can cause more harm than good
after a venomous snakebite. I have found snakebite protocols on this
site: http://www-surgery.ucsd.edu/ent/DAVIDSON/Snake/proinde.htm which
recommends the usage of the sawyer extractor. What are your thoughts
on their usage and if you do not recommend their usage, can you point
me to snakebite protocol listings in which provide alternate methods?
Thank you.
Dr_Sean_Bush: I have studied the Sawyer Extractor Pump extensively
and found that it does not remove enough venom to make a clinical
difference. In fact, I wrote an editorial about it: "Snakebite venom
suction devices don't remove venom--they just suck." You can access
this editorial via PubMed or through the Venom ER web site. GA
bthacker: .....What percentage of patients do you see annually
that the bites are from irresponsible keepers own handling mistakes?
What kind of hots do you personally keep if any? Thank you for being
here....and keep up the good work!
Dr_Sean_Bush: It's hard to answer that question exactly because
it requires so much judgement. I can say that over half of the bites
I see are intentionally interactive. I keep rattlesnakes and a Gila
Monster.
Dr_Sean_Bush: I like Mexican milksnakes, too. GA
Chance: What are your thoughts on the private keeping of venomous
reptiles?
Dr_Sean_Bush: It can be a good thing if done responsibly.
GA
geofri: dr bush, what can you telll me about the venom of
the false water cobra?
Dr_Sean_Bush: It can cause some swelling, possibly more if
a bite is prolonged. GA
coastalherper: Dr. Bush thanks for coming! Have you ever been
bit by any poisonous snake(s)? If so what type(s)?
Dr_Sean_Bush: I've never been bitten by anything dangerously
venomous. However, I was almost bitten by a sea snake once. And I
was stung by a bark scorpion...that's probably the most dangerous
envenomation I've ever had.
eunectes4: Hi Dr. Bush. I had heard before C. molossus was
looked at as not being effectively treated with CroFab a while back
and recently C. helleri was shown to have less effective treatment
on rodents when CroFab was used. When human bites were examined it
seemed to be effective.? Are there currently Crotalus species which
CroFab is not proving as the best effective treatment? Also, has Echis
AV been proven as effective on Atheris. I heard this but have not
seen any scientific studies. Sorry for the long question.
Dr_Sean_Bush: Good question! Actually, I studied this and
found that CroFab is effective for C. helleri envenomation (but not
all of them I later found) and not as effective as for Mojave toxin.
Dr_Sean_Bush: Some antivenoms have cross-protection but we
have lots to learn about it. GA
PHAlex: Hi Dr. Bush, do you think crofab production will increase
to the point that there is enough for all major hospitals to have
access to it? Thanks
Dr_Sean_Bush: It already has. GA
jeffb: I was recently zapped by a little mexican jumping spider
and it felt like I had been hit by a stun gun. An almost electric
shock. I have heard most snake venom reacts the same. Do your patientes
report this?
Dr_Sean_Bush: Envenomation is an extremely variable experience.
Some patients report a lot of pain and some report little or none.
GA
PHFaust: Sean, I know you are really pressed for time... We
have MANY Questions in the queue. Can I get the members to email them
to me and we can do it as an attachment to the log?
jeffb: Thank you very much
PHFaust: We are at the hour and I know Dr. Bush really readjusted
his schedule to be here...
jeffb: He has patients to see
Dr_Sean_Bush: Yes, please email the questions in the queue...but
for now I've got to go. I enjoyed the chat and wish I could stay longer!
Thank you for the invitation. Hope to do it again someday. If there
is a transcript of the session, I would like one...if so, please email
me privately. Dr. Sean P. Bush, MD, FACEP, Professor of Emergency
Medicine, Staff Emergency Physician & Envenomation Specialist,
Department of Emergency Medicine, Room A108, Loma Linda University
School of Medicine, Medical Center & Children's Hospital
PHFaust: On Behalf of Jeff B and all of us here at Kingsnake
THANK YOU! We will have you back again soon
