after microvascular and plastic surgeries to relieve venous … [3] The most common complication from leech treatment is prolonged bleeding, which can easily be treated, but more serious allergic reactions and bacterial infections may also occur. These organisms have two suckers, one at each end, called the anterior and posterior suckers. It is proposed that the series of non-human proteins within leech saliva may be capable of injuring the endothelium. Leech therapy … Medicinal leech therapy has undergone a renaissance in recent years, both in terms of how well the effects of using leeches are understood,and in the discovery of new clinical applications that have … In contrast, many of Broussais’s followers came to see the leech as offering a kinder, gentler approach, inducing a “state of relaxation of the nervous energy of the body,” according to British surgeon Rees Price, author of A Treatise on the Utility of Sangui-Suction or Leech Bleeding (1822). The medicinal use of leeches dates back to ancient Egyptians around 1300 BC; the Greek physician Galen (130 to 201 AD) commonly used leeches for bloodletting. [3] Medical use of leeches was discussed by Avicenna in The Canon of Medicine (1020s), and by Abd-el-latif al-Baghdadi in the 12th century. Leeches obtained from commercial breeders are easily maintained in a chlorine-free salt solution at 10° to 20°C. There are more than 700 species of leeches, all of which are carnivorous.1 The leech is an hermaphrodite, containing both male and female sexual organs, but is not self-fertile. Extensive blood loss. Other species of Hirudo sometimes also used as medicinal leeches include H. orientalis, H. troctina, and H. verbana. It is important to fully inform your doctor about the herbal, vitamins, mineral or any other supplements you are taking before any kind of surgery or medical procedure. Consult existing guidelines for the use of leeches. Leech therapy is used primarily after heart surgery to prevent clotting in coronary arteries. Medicinal Leech therapy has been used as an effective therapy for the patients suffering from varicose veins. Medicinal Leech Therapy . Conclusion. Leeches currently perform an effective job of removing pooled blood from wounds than any other medicinal therapy… In addition to hirudin, leeches secrete hirustasin, which selectively inhibits tissue kallikreins; antistasin and ghilanten, which inhibit Factor Xa; calin, apyrase, and saratin, which inhibit platelet aggregation; a histamine-like compound, which causes vasodilation; hyaluronidase and collagenase, which increase permeability; and bdellin and eglin, which are proteinase inhibitors.1, 10, 13, 14, There is conflicting evidence as to whether an anesthetic is secreted in H. medicinalis.4, 15, 16 Theromyzon is widely distributed in the tissue of the leech Theromyzon tessulatum and has angiotensin-converting, enzyme-like properties8 and peptides with antimicrobial properties have been identified.17, Undefined anti-inflammatory substances in the saliva of medicinal leeches have been reported.18, 19, Medicinal leeches are used to stimulate the flow of blood at postoperative surgical sites.2, 15, 16, After attaching to the site, leeches secrete compounds, especially hirudin, that reduce blood viscosity. [13], Because of the minuscule amounts of hirudin present in leeches, it is impractical to harvest the substance for widespread medical use. Hirudo medicinalis, the European medicinal leech, is one of several species of leeches used as "medicinal leeches". This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medicinal Leech Therapy on Head and Neck Patients return to: Microvascular Surgery Protocols; see Free Flap Monitoring and Salvage Theory Behind Using Leeches Venous congestion occurs when the … This chemical is … A recorded use of leeches in medicine was also found during 200 BC by the Greek physician Nicander in Colophon. Currently, she practices in Tampa Bay, Florida and specializes in Medicinal Leech Therapy, an FDA-approved devices that only a handful of physicians outside the ER practice in the United States. Blood loss may occur, sometimes requiring transfusions.18, 28, H. medicinalis should be considered a possible vector of infectious diseases. Allergic reactions and infections may develop. Several of these secreted proteins serve as anticoagulants (such as hirudin), platelet aggregation inhibitors (most notably apyrase, collagenase, and calin), vasodilators, and proteinase inhibitors. They provide the drainage needed to permit decongestion and to preserve tissue viability until normal venous flow is established.16, 20, Reviews of the use of 'hirudotherapy' in localized venous congestion or hematoma have been published; most commonly, only case reports exist in the literature.18, 21, 22, Based on reported anti-inflammatory substances in the saliva of medicinal leeches, a number of clinical studies have evaluated the role of leeches in osteoarthritis.18, 19 Blinding of participants is problematic in such studies and comparators have used transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)23 and topical diclofenac.24 A meta-analysis of clinical studies (n=4) reported moderate to strong evidence for pain reduction, functional impairment, and joint stiffness following leech therapy.19, Institutional guidelines may exist for the use of leeches. Diseases where leech therapy was indicated include skin diseases, sciatica, and musculoskeletal pains. Leeches are applied from 2 to 4 times a day for up to a week. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. Over-exploitation by leech collectors in the 19th century has left only scattered populations, and reduction in natural habitat through drainage has also contributed to their decline. The small, slimy creatures were widely used in the 19 th century to cure a variety of ailments. Several of these secreted proteins serve as anticoagulants (such as hirudin), platelet aggregation inhibitors (most notably apyrase, collagenase, and calin), vasodilators, and proteinase inhibitors. This is when medicinal leech therapy may be recommended for an optimal outcome. It is also thought that the saliva contains an anesthetic, as leech bites are gen… Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 7 Dec 2020), Cerner Multum™ (updated 4 Dec 2020), ASHP (updated 3 Dec 2020) and others. 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