Value of multimodal ultrasound in the assessment of snakebite.

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to analyze the ultrasound features of snakebite-affected limbs and explore the diagnostic utility of multimodal ultrasound.

Methods: An analysis was conducted on 70 patients with snakebites admitted to The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from July 2023 to October 2023. Two-dimensional ultrasound was used to observe subcutaneous tissue edema, color Doppler flow imaging to observe hemodynamic changes, and shear-wave elastography to measure subcutaneous tissue elasticity. Patient demographics and multimodal ultrasound findings were recorded, comparing affected versus unaffected limbs.

Results: In all patients, the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer, ultrasound grayscale median value, elasticity, and limb circumferences were significantly higher on the affected side than those on the unaffected side (P < 0.05). Continuous testing was conducted on 39 patients hospitalized for ≥ 3 days, and a gradual decrease in the thickness and elasticity of the subcutaneous fat layer was observed with treatment progression.

Conclusion: Multimodal ultrasound can assess limb edema and provides useful indicators for assessing the risk of compartment syndrome. This provides clinicians with a decision-making reference for treatment after snakebite.