A Comprehensive Review of Medicinal Leeches in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Narrative review published in PRS Global Open (2019)
Abstract
Medicinal leeches are a US Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for venous congestion in graft tissue to promote healing and can serve as a nonsurgical option for plastic surgery patients with concern for tissue compromise. Although there is a wealth of documentation on medicinal leech therapy, the surgical space currently lacks an updated summary of proper indications, use, and risks as they pertain to plastic surgical patients. The purpose of this article is to provide a platform for understanding the recent literature as it relates to reconstruction to improve understanding of indications and necessary considerations in using hirudotherapy. Topics examined include basics of hirudotherapy, indications in plastic surgery, implementation (leech application, number and duration of therapy, and removal), risks (infection and bleeding), and alternative treatments. The evidence provided will aid in physician understanding and implementation, patient counseling, and the informed consent process.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Comprehensive plastic-and-reconstructive-surgery-focused review covering medicinal leech basics, indications, application, treatment duration, removal, complications, and alternatives, framed for clinician counseling and informed consent.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This article provides an updated summary of medicinal leech therapy within plastic and reconstructive surgery, covering indications, implementation (leech application, number and duration of therapy, removal), risks such as infection and bleeding, and alternative treatments. It notes that medicinal leeches are FDA-approved for venous congestion in graft tissue to promote healing. The article is relevant to ASH's domain as an educational resource aimed at improving physician understanding, patient counseling, and the informed consent process. The abstract frames the work as a platform for understanding recent literature but does not specify its methodology; accordingly, its scope and evidence type should be inferred cautiously from the abstract alone.
Citation
A Comprehensive Review of Medicinal Leeches in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Hackenberger PN, Janis JE · Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open, 2019
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