Envenoming by King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah s str) with Cardiopulmonary Arrest in Yunnan, China.

Abstract

The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah s str) is feared for its large size and highly toxic venom because its bite can result in severe envenoming and life-threatening injuries. We report a case involving a 50-y-old male from the mountainous town of Yunnan Province who experienced cardiopulmonary arrest after being bitten by a king cobra on his left index finger, followed by myocardial injury, pulmonary infection, and serologic reactions. During treatment, the patient received Bungarus multicinctus antivenom and cobra antivenom to neutralize the toxin, intubation, mechanical ventilation, antibiotics, anticholinergic drugs, and antiallergy therapy. After active treatment, the patient ultimately recovered. This case analysis highlights the multiple toxic reactions caused by the bite of the king cobra. It emphasizes the critical importance of timely and effective antivenom therapy and a comprehensive treatment strategy in managing snakebite injuries.