[Abstract envenomation by the African puff adder (Bitis arietans): value of intracompartmental pressure measurement].

The purpose of this report is to describe a case of severe snake bite with envenomation by an African puff adder (Bitis arietans). Presenting symptoms warranted administration of antivenon upon admission. The patient's general condition improved. However bite-related trauma caused extensive phlyctenuar edema of the lower extremity with a high risk of compartimental syndrome due to hardening and compression. Due to the high risk for postoperative infection at our facility, aponevrotomy to relief pressure was not undertaken immediately. Instead management consisted in close surveillance with repeated measurement of peripheral pulses by Doppler ultrasound and of intracompartimental pressure. The outcome was favorable without need for aponevrotomy. This case demonstrates the value of intracompartimental pressure measurement in cases involving this type of envenomation in function of available technical facilities.