Benefits of leech application in sututed wounds
The leeches leave behind small, Y-shaped wounds that usually
heal without leaving a scar. Leeches are effective at increasing blood
circulation and breaking up blood clots. It should be no surprise that they can
be used to treat circulatory disorders and cardiovascular disease.
Leeches have been used in medicine long time before BC. In
recent years medical leech therapy has gained increasing interest in reconstructive surgery and pain management and
other medical fields.
The possible indications and success rates of this treatment are discussed. There is a special
interest in salvage of flaps and grafts by the use of medical leeches.
Retrospective analysis indicates a success rate of
>80%. Randomized controlled trials have been performed in osteoarthritis.
Case reports and smaller series are
available for the treatment of chronic wounds, post-phlebitic syndrome and inflammatory skin diseases.
The most common adverse
effects are prolonged bleeding and infection by saprophytic intestinal bacteria of leeches.
Medical leech therapy is a
useful adjunct to other measures wound management.
Comments Dr Vikas Gupta we Sandhyashi hospital is using leeches in: Acute wounds; Chronic wounds; Medical leech therapy; Reconstructive surgery.
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