title: Venous engorged tissue flaps treated with medicinal leeches.
abstract: We evaluated the ability of leeches to improve the tolerance of pedicle flaps to periods of venous congestion. Axial pedicle flaps were created on 14 rabbit ears; the venous circulation of each flap was compromised with a suture ligature. Medicinal leeches were applied to seven flaps; the other seven flaps were untreated. Tissue viability was assessed by both clinical examination and fluorometric analysis of fluorescein dye delivery. Leech-treated flaps showed poorer reperfusion than untreated flaps. No statistically significant difference was found in comparing the two groups.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston.
authors: I R
authors: IR
authors: Rodgers
authors: A S
authors: AS
authors: Grove
authors: D G
authors: DG
authors: Silverman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001815:Bloodletting; D002470:Cell Survival; D004423:Ear / Q000098:blood supply; D019793:Fluorescein; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000378:metabolism; D006085:Graft Survival; D007865:Leeches; D011817:Rabbits; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005452:Fluoresceins; D019793:Fluorescein