Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Medicinal leech therapy: a case study.

C A Baker, D A Nayduch

    Orthopedic Nursing
    |March 1, 1989
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Leeching offers a nonoperative solution for venous insufficiency after digit replantation. Medicinal leeches relieve venous congestion, with their hirudin continuing decongestion for hours post-attachment, presenting an alternative to surgery.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Inefficient transfer of diatoms through the subpolar Southern Ocean twilight zone.

    Nature geoscience·2025
    Same author

    Influence of soil microbes on Escherichia coli O157:H7 survival in soil rinse and artificial soil.

    Journal of applied microbiology·2021
    Same author

    Escherichia coli O157 survival in liquid culture and artificial soil microcosms with variable pH, humic acid and clay content.

    Journal of applied microbiology·2020
    Same author

    Measurement of the Permanent Electric Dipole Moment of the Neutron.

    Physical review letters·2020
    Same author

    Natural Infection of Vicia faba by Bidens mottle virus in Florida.

    Plant disease·2019
    Same author

    A Virus Related to Clover Yellow Mosaic Virus Found East of the Mississippi River in Verbena canadensis in Florida.

    Plant disease·2019
    Same journal

    Radiology Case Review: Multiple Myeloma.

    Orthopedic nursing·2026
    Same journal

    Enhanced Recovery Nursing for Delirium and Functional Recovery After Femoral Neck Fracture Surgery in Older Adults.

    Orthopedic nursing·2026
    Same journal

    Walking the Tight Rope for a Diagnosis: A Case Report of a Dermatological Enigma of Surgical Device Nickel Allergy.

    Orthopedic nursing·2026
    Same journal

    Determining the Appropriate Pharmaceutical Prophylaxis for Venous Thromboembolism Following Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Systematic Literature Review.

    Orthopedic nursing·2026
    Same journal

    Naon Announcements.

    Orthopedic nursing·2026
    Same journal

    Some Nursing History and an Ode to Nursing.

    Orthopedic nursing·2026
    See all related articles

    Area of Science:

    • Biomedical engineering
    • Surgical innovation
    • Regenerative medicine

    Background:

    • Successful digit replantation relies on restoring both arterial inflow and venous outflow.
    • Venous insufficiency is a significant complication that can jeopardize the viability of replanted digits.
    • Traditional surgical interventions for venous congestion can be invasive and carry risks.

    Observation:

    • Leeching, a nonoperative method, was explored to address venous insufficiency in digit replantation.
    • Medicinal leeches were applied to relieve venous congestion, providing immediate and sustained decongestion.
    • The hirudin secreted by leeches demonstrated prolonged anticoagulant and vasodilatory effects, aiding in decongestion for 1-2 hours post-attachment.

    Findings:

    • Leeching effectively relieved venous congestion in the case study, acting as a viable alternative to surgical intervention.

    Related Experiment Videos

  • The use of leeches provided a minimally invasive approach to managing venous insufficiency.
  • The study highlights the therapeutic potential of leech therapy in post-replantation care.

    • Implications:

    • Leeching presents a promising nonoperative strategy for managing venous congestion in digit replantation.
    • This approach may reduce the need for complex surgical procedures, potentially lowering patient morbidity.
    • Further research into leech therapy could expand its application in reconstructive surgery and tissue salvage.