Clinical use of leeches in reconstructive surgery.
Although medicinal bloodletting with leeches is a practice that dates back 3500 years, leeches have been used in reconstructive surgery for only the past 35 years. In this article, the indications, mechanisms of action, and guidelines for using leeches in reconstructive surgery are reviewed.
Daane
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Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Utah Medical Center, Salt Lake City, USA.
Zamora
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S
Rockwell
W B
WB
D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007865:Leeches; D018579:Patient Selection; D012092:Replantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects*