title: Medicinal Leech Therapy for Glans Penis Congestion After Primary Bladder Exstrophy-Epispadias Repair in an Infant: A Case Report.
abstract: Many postoperative complications have been reported after repair of classic bladder exstrophy. We present a case of medicinal leech therapy for glans penis congestion following exstrophy repair in an infant. A 2-week-old male with classic bladder exstrophy underwent complete primary repair. On postoperative day 1, he developed rapidly worsening glans penis venous congestion. Medicinal leech therapy was instituted with antibiotics and blood transfusions to maintain a hematocrit >30%. After 24 hours, venous congestion improved and therapy was discontinued. The patient's remaining hospital course was uncomplicated. Medicinal leeches are an effective therapy to relieve glans penis venous congestion.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX. Electronic address: gavin.n.wagenheim@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Gavin N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Wagenheim
authors.affiliation: Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Au
authors.affiliation: Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Patricio C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Gargollo
mesh_terms: D001746:Bladder Exstrophy / Q000601:surgery*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D004842:Epispadias / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D024763:Leeching / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010409:Penile Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010413:Penis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000009:adverse effects*