Evaluation of performance characteristics of the medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis) for the treatment of venous congestion

Medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) are a standard treatment for venous congestion, a complication that can occur after reconstructive surgery. If the cause of venous congestion cannot be surgically corrected, then medicinal leeches are used to temporarily increase perfusion levels and maintain physiologic requirements within the congested tissue. Leeches increase perfusion within congested tissue by actively drawing off blood as a bloodmeal. Furthermore, the leech bite continues to bleed and relieve congestion after detachment because of the anticoagulation effects of leech saliva left behind in the bite. In a porcine model, a 10 x 10 cm cutaneous flank flap was congested by clamping the venae comitantes. Four medicinal leeches were allowed to attach to the congested flap, and parameters of active feeding and passive bleeding after detachment were recorded. The average bloodmeal volume for the medicinal leeches was 2.45 ml. Average passive bleeding for the first 2 and 4 hours after leech detachment totaled 2.21 and 2.50 ml, respectively, with 90 percent of passive bleeding occurring within 5 hours after detachment. Laser Doppler imaging indicated that the spatial arrangement of surface perfusion increases were localized to a 1.6-cm-diameter circle around the leech head (bite) and corresponded well with the visual return of normal skin tones to the same area. This study provides a realistic and quantitative estimate of the spatial and volumetric characteristics of leech feeding and passive bleeding using a clinically relevant model of acute, severe congestion.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

Porcine model showed leech bloodmeal averaged 2.45 mL, passive bleeding 2.50 mL over 4 hours, with surface perfusion increases localized to 1.6-cm circle around bite (90% bleeding within 5 hours of detachment).

Узнайте, как это исследование связано с клинической практикой

More peer-reviewed studies in Клинические исследования.

• Leech Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis — The Landmark RCT — Michalsen et al. (2003)
• Leech-Assisted Flap Salvage — Systematic Review of 277 Cases — Whitaker et al. (2012)
• Effects of hirudotherapy on liver functions, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity in rats with metabolic syndrome — Bilden A et al. (2026)
• Efficacy and Safety of Hirudotherapy for Improving Sperm Quality Parameters in Male Infertility: A Randomized Controlled Trial — Abtahi-Forooshani M et al. (2026)
• Reverse Sural Flap Venous Congestion Successfully Managed With Enoxaparin in a Male Patient With a Traumatic Foot Crush Injury: A Case Report — Velasco-Bustamante J et al. (2026)
• Investigation of the therapeutic effects of medicinal leech treatment on lower extremity ischemia-reperfusion injury — Ünal K et al. (2026)
• Efficacy of Medicinal Leech Therapy in Diverse Clinical Applications: A Comprehensive Study from Azerbaijan — Farzali S et al. (2025)
• HIRUDOTHERAPY IN RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY: CASE-REPORTS AND REVIEW — Heinz P et al. (2020)
• Hirudotherapy Efficacy and Complications in the Management of Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction: A Systematic Review — Foppiani J et al. (2024)
• Hirudotherapy in Wound Healing — Nair H et al. (2022)

Browse all ASH-analysed research →