Medicinal leech therapy in protocol for flap conditions of head and neck patients return to: Microvascular Surgery Protocols; see Surveillance and free flap salvage. Theory behind the use of leeches Venous congestion occurs when the veins that drain blood from a tissue are unable to do their job due to coagulated blood within them or external pressure on the draining vein. Then the blood collects in the tissue because it cannot get out. This pooled blood can eventually destroy the integrity of the tissue and the tissue can die. Venous congestion in most cases is best treated by promptly returning the patient to the operating room to remove the venous obstruction. In rare situations this is not possible or indicated, and in these situations, leeches can be used to relieve venous congestion. 
What happens to the leech after leech therapy Complications and happens to the leech right after leech therapy takes place: The principle of using leeches is related to the traditional medicine of many countries and its application has different philosophies for its use in different parts of the body. Leeches, with all the benefits, can have risks. Materials and methods: A review of the complications of leech therapy was conducted based on English-language articles indexed in databases until July 1, 2018. A strategic search was conducted independently by members of the research team and then all Articles are classified by theme. Results: Related articles are often case reports. Complications are divided into five categories, including infection, allergy, prolonged bleeding, transplantation, and others. Infection is the most commonly reported complication associated with therapy with leeches and Aeromonas spp. It has the highest share of infections. 
Conclusion: Leech therapy can be an adjunctive therapeutic method if possible, complications are properly managed. The leech is a type of bloodthirsty hermaphrodite. The genus Hirudo is known as the medicinal leeches. In the saliva of this tiny creature there are over hundreds of bioactive compounds that are injected into the host's tissue during feeding. The principle of Medicinal Leech Therapy (MLT) or Hirudotherapy, is related to the traditional medicine of many countries and has different philosophies for its use in different parts of the body. Iranian traditional medicine scientists such as Avicenna and Abdul Latif Baghdadi also mentioned the effects of leech therapy in their books. A review of traditional Iranian medicinal sources showed that leech therapy is used for 125 different conditions, a wide variety of diseases and ailments. With the advent of modern medicine, these little vampires were not used much, but in the late 19th century, a new use was created for them in modern medicine. The use of medicinal leeches for intravenous congestion after reconstructive surgery has been approved by the FDA. The blood-sucking behavior of an external parasite such as leeches can have various consequences due to the fact that it pierces the surface of the host's body to penetrate. A leech bite causes a direct connection between its body and the host's body. Leech bites can also lead to death, although this is extremely rare. Therefore, leech therapy, with all its benefits, can have risks. The present study was conducted to review the findings of leech therapy complications in articles to help clinicians know its complications and prevent them. 
Leech therapy cost
Medical leeches and their benefits Medicinal Leeches therapy cost are Using therapy Worldwide cost for Many Human Ailments Hirudotherapy, the formal name for leech therapy, is making a comeback in the United States as a growing number of people seek drug-free solutions to their health problems. Leech therapy has been used to successfully treat thrombosis, narrowed arteries, heart disease, tinnitus, bruises, rheumatism, hemorrhoids, muscle complications, and many other conditions. The therapeutic activity of leech is not based on a single mechanism of action, but on a combination of many effects. Leech saliva is really unusual, because it contains several chemical compounds that are useful in medicine. These include a local anesthetic that the leech uses to avoid host detection, an anticoagulant, hirudin, which helps prevent heart attacks and strokes, a vasodilator, and a prostaglandin that helps reduce inflammation. The leech's gut has a bacterium known as Aeromonad hydrophila. This bacterium helps digest blood transfusions and produces an antibiotic that kills other bacteria that can cause putrefaction. The medical term for such a cornucopia of effects is called a "multifactorial mechanism." 
Leech therapy on face
LEECH THERAPY ON FACE IS RETURNING TO THE EUROPE WITH LEECH FACIALS OF BLOOD VOICE AND SALIVA. JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED! 22 BRAIN. 3 JAWS. 300 TEETH. 9 TESTICLES. Leeches pack a lot of power into their slimy, segmented bodies. Beyond their impressive anatomical stats, they're also awesome little doctors! Leeches have been used medicinally for centuries, first in Egypt about 2,500 years ago and still today by a small handful of private practitioners. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME In ancient Greece and 19th-century Europe, leeches were the dominant medical tool for drawing blood, a procedure in which doctors sought to help balance the body's "humors" by allowing the patient who bleeds a little. Bloodletting is thought to treat a variety of conditions, becoming a universal solution for every possible ailment. Leech sangria became so popular that in 1883, French medical professionals imported more than 40 million leeches from Russia for medical purposes. 
Some of history's most famous figures, from Cleopatra to Napoleon, have also used leech therapy. Weird Sidebar: Rumor has it that Leeches may be blamed for Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. At the time of the battle, he was suffering from a severe case of hemorrhoids - riding a horse, no thanks. He usually uses leeches to relieve his sore ass, but when he didn't find any leeches, his doctor used a tincture of opium, which chilled little Napoleon! BLOWING THIS CENTURY Believe it or not, leeches are still used today! In 2004, the FDA approved leeches as medical devices, used to remove blood from congested wounds (good news for hospital staff, the leeches used today are farmed rather than harvested!). They're also a secret weapon in the weird beauty trend of leech facials, popularized by Victoria's Secret model Miranda Kerr, who keeps her bloodsuckers as pets in her koi pond after treatment! Currently, only five private practitioners practice leech therapy in the US Dr. Nidia Diaz, founder of Beyond Wellness and world expert in hirudotherapy, is one of the select few. To see Dr. Diaz at work giving Ripley's investigator Sabrina Sieck a facial leech, watch the latest episode of Ripley's Cool Stuff Strange Things on YouTube. From blood to our host peeing twice, this episode is not for the faint of heart! 
Leech therapy for hair
LEECH THERAPY, BALDNESS AND LOSS FOR HAIR LEECH THERAPY TO BRING IT BACK Leech therapy increases blood circulation. Therefore, when leeches are applied to areas of the scalp that have become thin or bald, increased blood circulation helps distribute and concentrate nutrients that help strengthen hair follicles. The therapy can help promote hair growth. As with all treatments, results will vary from individual to individual. People suffering from alopecia caused by fungal infections or dandruff can also benefit from the antimicrobial properties inherent in the saliva of leeches. This helps prevent local infection and also helps fight any established infection. FLEA LEECHE THERAPY AS TREATMENT Boils are deep skin infections. The boil starts as a red, painful area and gradually becomes tender and hard. Inflammation occurs and a central "eye" or beak forms, containing pus. 
Pus is a thick, cloudy liquid substance, usually yellowish white in color, that forms in association with inflammation caused by the invasion of the body by infectious microorganisms (eg, bacteria). Pus is composed of degenerated leukocytes (white blood cells), tissue debris, and living or dead microorganisms. A single leech is usually placed over the eye of the boil to feed directly on the pus. Additional leeches are placed in the area around the boil to improve circulation in the affected area. The combined effect of leeches is to quickly relieve congestion and reduce pressure that causes swelling, tenderness, and pain. DIABETES THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF THERAPY WITH LEECHE One of the most important substances secreted by the salivary glands of leeches is hirudin, a blood coagulation suppressant. Diabetic patients have sugar-laden and therefore viscous (ie, thick) blood, and this leads to an increased risk of blood clots. Hirudin helps prevent blood clots and also improves blood circulation. Improved circulation results in less pressure on the heart and blood vessels. Better blood circulation helps all healing processes, which can be severely affected in diabetic patients. 
EAR AND HEARING PROBLEMS CURATIVE TREATMENT WITH LEECHES Leech therapy can help cure or significantly relieve the three most common ear and hearing problems: sudden hearing loss, tinnitus, and otitis media (middle ear infection). People suffering from other ear-related ailments can also benefit from leech therapy. When attached, leeches release an analgesic that numbs pain in the human host. They also release beneficial enzymes and an anticoagulant that prevent the formation of blood clots and also help dissolve existing blood clots. Blood vessels are expanded by other enzymes secreted by leeches, which improves circulation in general. Secreted antimicrobial substances kill bacteria and other pathogens that cause ear problems. 
Leech therapy benefits
Since ancient times, leeches have been used to treat many diseases and ailments through bloodletting, a method in which blood is drawn in the hope that removing the impure blood will heal the body. Believe it or not, leech therapy is sometimes benefits the best treatment in the treatment of diseases, even beating drug treatments. Due to its healing effects on the human body, the traditional method of curing disease continues to develop today. Treatment of vascular diseases It is in the saliva of leeches that is known to cure or prevent disease. Your saliva has more than 100 bioactive substances that are very beneficial. One ingredient is hirudin, which acts as an anticoagulant agent. Calin is another substance that prevents blood clotting. A substance that dissolves fibrin clots and prevents thrombus formation is destabilization. Leech saliva also contains a Factor Xa inhibitor, and this compound slows the clotting effect of coagulation Factor Xa. It also has hyaluronidase that improves the viscosity of the interstitial fluid. For the vasodilator effect, it has acetylcholine and histamine-like substances, as well as carboxypeptidase A inhibitors. These three can increase blood flow by dilating constricted blood vessels. These are just some of the beneficial substances in leech saliva. 
All of the above work together to reduce blood viscosity, making it thinner in consistency to promote better blood flow. Blood with a thick consistency makes it easy to form and increases the price of an individual's blood. These clots can travel to different parts of the body and block a vessel, which can cause a stroke or stroke. Thickened blood poses a risk that the distal extremities, especially the tips of the fingers and toes, do not receive enough oxygenated blood and the nutrients they need. Therefore, the anticoagulant substance in the leeches' saliva is important, as it naturally thins the blood and acts to prevent platelet clotting. Patients with cardiovascular disease undergo leech therapy on other parts of their body than, for example, peripheral vascular disease patients. In each case, leeches will promote better blood flow to the region. Treatment of cardiovascular diseases Since the early days of the 20th century, people have been using leeches to treat cardiovascular disease because of the Hirudin enzyme in the saliva of leeches, a substance with a SYSTEMATIC anticoagulant effect. A doctor usually prescribes the use of leeches when a person suffers a stroke or put attack. In addition, Hirudin stimulates the capabilities of the segmental reflex and contributes to the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. 
Leech therapy for flap congestion
Evaluation of leech therapy for flap venous congestion Background: One of the common problems in flap surgery is venous congestion. The literature contains a plethora of alternative surgical revision techniques to treat this problem. Lech therapy is one of these methods. In the present study, leech therapy was used to treat twenty cases with congested venous flaps. The procedure, results and complications will be presented and discussed. Purpose of Study: The purpose of this study is to highlight the efficacy of leech therapy in salvaging congested venous flaps. Patients and Methods: A prospective clinical study was conducted in 20 patients with postoperative venous congested fasciocutaneous flaps. 
These patients were treated with leech therapy at Al-Zahraa University Hospital and Al-Mataria Teaching Hospital between May 2020 and April 2021. Results: The percentage of congested areas in the flaps before leech therapy ranged from 10% to 100%. The final results of these congested flaps after leech therapy are dramatic in terms of improvement in venous congestion and subsequently flap survival. The flap survival rate ranged from 60% to 100% with a mean of 88.25%. Conclusion: The use of leech therapy proved effective in significantly relieving flap venous congestion and subsequently increasing the flap survival rate. Leech therapy should be started as soon as possible after other means of establishing venous flow have been exhausted. The guidelines must be strictly followed to avoid the biological risks of leech therapy.