Leech as a lifeboat: Reminiscent role in plastic and reconstructive surgery!

Abstract

Leeching was a popular therapeutic practice since ancient times for various diseases. Previously, it was used as an unscientific home remedy by traditional therapists. Currently, leech came back to contemporary medicine with few applications, which were demonstrated and held by an enormous number of scientific studies and case reports. Leeches are worms of the Phylum Annelida that feed on blood extracted from a host. Medicinal leeches have been evidently revealed to have a role in reconstructive surgery and replantation surgery. Literature exhibited the use of leeches in microsurgeries such as in skin flaps, replantation of amputated tissues of face, scalp, ears, fingers, and penis. Leech therapy increases the blood flow and neovascularization. This article highlights the comprehensive importance of leech therapy in the clinics of plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Keywords

• hirudotherapy
• leeches
• microsurgeries
• skin flaps