Comparison of F(ab')2 versus Fab antivenom for pit viper envenomation: a prospective, blinded, multicenter, randomized clinical trial.

Background: Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (Ovine) has been the only antivenom commercially available in the US since 2007 for treatment of Crotalinae envenomation. Late coagulopathy can occur or recur after clearance of Fab antivenom, often after hospital discharge, lasting in some cases more than 2 weeks. There have been serious, even fatal, bleeding complications associated with recurrence phenomena.

Delayed cardiogenic shock and acute lung injury after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Both cardiac and lung injury after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage has been attributed to an adrenergic surge. Cardiogenic shock is very uncommon. We describe a 55-yr-old woman with a delayed cardiogenic shock emerging within hours after aneurysmal rupture.

Iodine toxicity treated with hemodialysis and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration.

Continuous mediastinal irrigation with povidone-iodine is used commonly for treating severe postoperative mediastinitis. However, concurrent iodine toxicity has been reported, particularly in patients with renal dysfunction (likely because absorbed iodine is renally excreted). The authors were consulted on a 45-year-old patient with mediastinitis who had renal and hepatic dysfunction while being treated with mediastinal irrigation of povidone-iodine.