HIRUDOTHERAPY IN RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY: CASE-REPORTS AND REVIEW
Acta Chirurgiae Plasticae
|March 9, 2021
Summary
Medicinal leech therapy, or hirudotherapy, is experiencing a resurgence in reconstructive surgery. Leeches effectively treat venous congestion and aid in tissue survival after complex surgical procedures.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Surgical Innovation
- Medical History
Background:
- Medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis, Hirudo verbana) possess a long history of therapeutic use.
- Leech therapy experienced peak popularity in 19th-century Europe.
- Modern applications, pioneered in 1960, focus on venous congestion in reconstructive surgery.


