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Leeches: controlled trial in venous compromised rat epigastric flaps
C Lee1, R J Mehran, M L Lessard
1Microsurgical Research Laboratories, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Canada.
British Journal of Plastic Surgery
|April 1, 1992
Summary
Leech therapy can improve skin flap survival in rats with venous compromise. This study shows leech treatment significantly increased flap survival, offering a temporary solution before surgical revascularization.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Surgical Innovation
- Biomedical Research
Background:
- Venous compromise in skin flaps leads to necrosis.
- Effective salvage strategies are crucial for flap survival.
- Leech therapy is a historical treatment for circulatory issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of leech therapy in improving survival of venous compromised rat skin flaps.
- To quantify the impact of leech treatment on flap survival rates.
Main Methods:
- Bilateral epigastric island flaps were created in 22 rats.
- Flaps were subjected to 6 hours of venous occlusion.
- One flap per rat received leech treatment; the other served as control.
- Flap survival, leech feeding duration, weight gain, and bleeding times were recorded.
Main Results:
- Leech-treated flaps showed significantly increased survival area compared to controls (p = 0.03).
- Average leech weight gain was 1.3g over 107 minutes of feeding.
- Average bleeding time per leech bite was 79 minutes.
Conclusions:
- Leech therapy can partially mitigate flap necrosis caused by venous impairment.
- This treatment provides a viable option until definitive surgical venous revascularization can be performed.