Leeches in microsurgery - An evidence-based approach

Abstract

Leeches for medical use for blood-letting have a rather long tradition back to 1500 B.C. In microsurgery leeches have been extensively used clinically usually for relief of venous congestion. As such, procedures like scalp replantation, pedicled and free flap surgery, ear replantation as well as finger replantation have been successfully performed with the help of leeches. The chapter reviews the anatomical and physiological basis of medicinal leeches and the clinical applications in an evidence-based medicine approach.