Leech Therapy In A Case With Arterial Embolism

Although there have been significant advances in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, acute peripheral arterial blockage is still important due to limb-threatening ischemia and loss of function it causes in vital organs. Leeches have been used in the treatment of certain diseases since ancient times. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permitted the sale of leeches in this country and their use for general purposes, plastic surgery and micro-surgery in 2004. There are studies in the literature reporting leech therapy administration in post-surgical vascular permeability complications. In conclusion, huridotherapy can be used as an alternative treatment in addition to medical treatment of arterial embolism. This article studied a case that had peripheral arterial embolism and recovered through leech treatment.

Keywords:

Arterial Embolism Hirudotherapy, Amputation,

PDF

___

1. Dereli Yl. Acute peripheral arterial occlusion: a review of 137 cases. Turkish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2012;20(2).
2. Gödekmerdan A, Arusan S, Bayar B, Sağlam N. Tıbbi Sülükler ve Hirudoterapi. Turkiye Parazitol Derg, 2011;35:234-239.
3. Riede F, Koenen W, Goerdt S, Ehmke H, Faulhaber J. Medicinal leeches for the treatment of venous congestion and hematoma after plastic reconstructive surgery. JDDG: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft. 2010;8(11):881-888.
4. Moosavıan HR, Mırghazanfarı SM, Moghaddam KG. Effect of ischemia preconditioning and leech therapy on cutaneous pedicle flaps subjected to prolonged ischemia in a mouse model. Aesthetic plastic surgery. 2014;38(5):1024-1029.
5. Abdullah S, Dar LM, Rashid A, Tewari A. Hirudotherapy/leech therapy: applications and indications in surgery. Arch Clin Exp Surg. 2012;1(3):172-180.
6. Elyassı AR, Terres J, Rowshan HH. Medicinal leech therapy on head and neck patients: a review of literature and proposed protocol. Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology. 2013;116(3):e167-e172.