My name is Dr. Hoan Nguyen, a former toxicologist at the Rocky Mountain Poison Center prior to me moving out of state. I would like to bring attention to a comment I came across recently in your recent article, “What to Do…and What Not to Do… If Bitten by a Rattlesnake”, posted on July 15, 2022…
…namely the statement:
“If available, apply a Sawyer Extractor to the bite until there is no more drainage. This device is often able to remove some venom from the wound and creates a negative pressure gradient that slows the spread of venom into the body. (This is a very beneficial device recommended by the Rocky Mountain Poison Control Center and experts in medical herpetology.)”
Suction extractor devices are ineffective at managing venom, do not remove venom on the wound, nor do they slow the spread of venom. The Sawyer Extractor is marketed on a myth and several studies and toxicologists agree that use of these devices are not an effective use of time or resources. See these sources:
https://www.annemergmed.com/article/S0196-0644(03)01104-1/fulltext.
I would caution including such a statement in your publication as it could lead to adverse patient outcomes if patients waste time using them. I also don’t believe the Colorado Outdoors podcast linked in the article mentions the device at all either.
While I no longer work at the Rocky Mountain Poison Center since my move with the Air Force, I would be willing to say that no toxicologist at RMPC would recommend such a device. You may contact them at 303-829-1123 if you would like their official stance.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope that this information is informative and can clarify any misconceptions regarding the care of rattlesnake bites.
Very respectfully,
Hoan Nguyen, MD
Emergency Medicine | Medical Toxicology
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