Monitor Pulse and Blood Pressure carefully. Be prepared to treat for Anaphylaxis. The Palestine Viper is considered the most dangerous snake in Israel and is noted for its ability to strike its victim quickly and without warning. Volume loss occurs secondary to damage of the vascular endothelium which results in massive bleeding into the soft tissues as well as internal hemorrhage. Finally thrombocytopenia and fibrinolysis contribute to these bleeding tendencies.
Fatalities are infrequent if antivenom is administered in a timely manner.
The following references are recommended for further reading. This material includes case histories, guidelines and recent findings in treatment of Vipera xanthina palestinae bites. These should be read only after treatment has begun, and the patient is stable.