Femoral vessel entrapment and compartment syndromes following snakebite.

A 15-year-old patient who had been bitten on the ankle by a snake presented with swelling extending to the chest wall, with significant haemostatic abnormalities. Compartment and femoral vessel entrapment syndromes are presented. Compartment syndrome is easily mimicked by snakebite without a compartment syndrome. Current measurement of intracompartmental pressure, diastolic or mean arterial blood pressure and resulting equations used to determine the need for fasciotomy do not take into account regional venous or arterial pressures. Combined vessel entrapment and compartment syndromes due to snakebite warrant urgent surgery once hypovolaemia and coagulopathy have been controlled.