Medicinal Leech Therapy: Friend or Foe.
Leech therapy is the ancient practice of bloodletting or bloodsucking and is considered one of the oldest medical practices known. Its use has spanned centuries and is still used in plastic surgery practices today when performing free flaps and replants. The purpose of this article is to discuss the history of this ancient therapy and to describe the leech and its present indications, complications, contraindications, and techniques.
Marcia Spear, DNP, ACNP-BC, CWS, CPSN, CANS, is a nurse practitioner with the Department of Plastic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.
Marcia
M
Spear
D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D024763:Leeching / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000266:history*