Leech Therapy in the Head and Neck

Area of Science:

• Medical Sciences
• Surgical Oncology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Leech therapy, an ancient medical practice, is regaining favor for managing surgical site venous congestion.
• Limited data exists on leech therapy's efficacy and application in the head and neck region compared to other anatomical areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate leech therapy outcomes in patients with head and neck venous congestion.
• To review existing literature on leech therapy for venous congestion.
• To establish guidelines for head and neck leech therapy.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series analysis of patients treated with leech therapy for venous congestion (2016-2019).
• Literature review of studies on leeching and venous congestion from PubMed and Scopus.
• Outcome variable: tissue loss in head and neck reconstructive sites.

Main Results:

• Seven patients treated; mean age 60.86 years.
• 43% achieved complete recovery; 57% experienced minor tissue loss.
• Literature review identified 16 relevant articles, including systematic reviews and case series.

Conclusions:

• Leech therapy is a viable treatment for venous congestion.
• Pre-therapy screening for coagulopathy and blood thinners is essential.
• Antibiotic prophylaxis is critical to prevent Aeromonas hydrophila infection.