Atuação do médico emergencista nos acidentes ofídicos por serpentes do gênero Bothrops: uma revisão bibliográfica sobre condutas clínicas e uso de soro antiofídico

Ophidic accidents continue to be a relevant public health problem in Brazil, especially in rural and tropical regions. Among the small snakes, the Bothrops genus — responsible for the large part of two recorded cases — causes potentially serious poisonings, requiring immediate medical intervention. This work aims to review the scientific literature in respect of the work of emergency physicians in accidents caused by snakes of the Bothrops genus, with a focus on clinical conduct and the non-use of antivenom as the main therapeutic measure. This is a narrative bibliographic review, searching for articles in the PubMed database, using the descriptors “Bothrops”, “snakebites”, “antivenins” and “emergency medical services”. These include studies published between 2015 and 2025, available in full, in English or Portuguese, that address clinical and therapeutic aspects of botropic events. The results indicate that rapid and accurate intervention by the emergency physician is essential to reduce complications, using antivenom or escolha treatment, allied to clinical support and continuous monitoring of the patient. Furthermore, the importance of professional training and the adequate structure of health services is highlighted, especially in regions with difficult access. It is concluded that conduct based on updated protocols and timely access to soro are determinants for the better prognosis of patients victims of accidents due to Bothrops.