The development of microsurgery allowed surgeons to repair damaged blood vessels after traumatic amputation and transplant skin flaps. However, venous congestion and poor tissue drainage often led to the failure of these procedures. Without relieving congestion, blood clots form, preventing blood flow to the attached tissue, leading to tissue death. Leeches remove blood from tissue before it has a chance to clot, preventing venous stasis. This keeps the tissue healthy and perfused until new veins begin to grow to maintain venous return, a process that takes five to six days.
Leeches in plastic and microsurgery
Modern leech therapy is now used to treat poor venous drainage, relieve vascular lesions in flaps, and restore tissue that has been surgically reattached after traumatic amputation. The success rate of leech treatment is estimated at 78%, and the overall complication rate is 21,8%.
In plastic surgery, doctors use leeches to treat keloid scars.
They are suitable for the treatment of other scarring skin changes. Leeches suck blood from scar tissue. This helps reduce their size and reduce the itching and pain associated with these changes. In plastic surgery, leeches can be used to reduce swelling and bruising after surgery on the face or body. They can also help improve skin color and texture. In microsurgery, leeches are used to restore blood circulation and improve healing after tissue transplantation.
Treatment of various diseases and conditions using leeches is a technique that has found application in various fields of medicine, including plastic and microsurgery.
Leeches have been used medicinally for over two thousand years. They secrete substances that have anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, anesthetic and other beneficial properties. As a result of this, leeches are used to treat various diseases such as varicose veins, thrombosis, hypertension, arthritis, migraines and many others.
The use of leeches in plastic and microsurgery is an innovative treatment method. This can complement traditional treatments. However, you should always consult with a qualified professional before using this method.
Leeches contain in their saliva many biologically active substances, such as hirudin, which has anti-inflammatory properties, and hyaluronidase, which softens tissues and facilitates their penetration.
These properties allow leeches to effectively treat many diseases.
