title: The use of medicinal leeches, Hirudo medicinalis, to restore venous circulation in trauma and reconstructive microsurgery.
abstract: Following replantation of complete or incomplete nonviable amputations of digits and hands, as well as microsurgical free tissue transfer, there is often a critical need for adjuvant therapy in order to restore sufficient venous drainage. In 24 out of 29 patients, venous insufficiency was successfully treated with the use of medicinal leeches. In a group of patients who had undergone replantation procedures (11 patients total), 9 patients (8 with digit and 1 with hand amputations) had venous drainage successfully restored with medicinal leeches, while in a group of patients who had free tissue transfers (18 patients total), 15 had the venous congestion treated successfully with leeches. The results indicate that medicinal leeches are a valuable, alternative method for the treatment of venous congestion in both replantation patients and those who have undergone free tissue transfer.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Ioannina, School of Medicine, Greece.
authors: P N
authors: PN
authors: Soucacos
authors: A E
authors: AE
authors: Beris
authors: K N
authors: KN
authors: Malizos
authors: C T
authors: CT
authors: Kabani
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Pakos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007865:Leeches; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000517:prevention & control*