Medicinal leech therapy: a case study

Essential to the outcome of the replantation of digits is adequate arterial inflow and venous outflow. A nonoperative solution to the problem of venous insufficiency is leeching. The leech relieves venous congestion while attached, as the hirudin released by the leech continues to decongest the digit for 1-2 more hours. The emphasis of this article is a case study using leeches for venous congestion as an alternative to surgery.