<i>Bitis arietans</i> bite poisoning in Angola regarding a clinical case with compartment syndrome

Introduction: Snake bite poisoning is a serious medical condition and a frequent medical-surgical emergency, which primarily affects rural communities in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and New Guinea. Throughout Southern and Eastern Africa, Bitis arietans is responsible for the majority of cases of serious poisoning and death. This article aims to present the first published clinical case that occurred in Angola regarding compartment syndrome caused by a Bitis arietans bite. Case Report: The patient presented compartment syndrome of the right upper limb and profuse bleeding from the bite site with flexural lesions at the level of the forearm, limited movement, and painful palpation. Thumb with bleeding punctuates lesion and blackened skin, asymmetrical chest due to increased volume of the right pectoral region, painful on palpation and without subcutaneous emphysema. After a period of 92 days in hospital and undergoing 9 surgeries, the patient evolved satisfactorily, despite prolonged stay, with surgical approximation of the edges of the surgical wound and it was decided to discharge him for follow-up in surgery consultation. Conclusion: The multivariate spectrum of clinical complications developed and presented in this case demonstrates that snakebites have unique characteristics that make their prevention and control challenging. Inaccessibility to differentiated healthcare tends to increase complications and the probability of death, when combined with the fact that antivenom is not produced or available in our country. In Angola, snake bites are not a notifiable disease, which makes it difficult to know the statistics of the problem.