Titre du document / Document title

The return of the leech

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

ABDELGABAR A. M. ⁽¹⁾ ; BHOWMICK B. K. ⁽²⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Department of Elderly Medicine, Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby, Humberside, ROYAUME-UNI
⁽²⁾ Department of Medicine, Glan Clwyd Hospital, Rhyl, Clwyd, ROYAUME-UNI

Résumé / Abstract

Medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) have been used in medicine for thousands of years to treat a wide range of ailments. Nowadays, leeches are used successfully for only a few conditions, notably in the field of reconstructive or microsurgery, to salvage tissue flaps and skin grafts whose viability is threatened by venous congestion.The anticoagulant properties of hirudin, contained in leech saliva, may lead to wider therapeutic applications in the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic disease. Optimal care is needed when applying leeches, because their use can be complicated by serious bacterial infections.

Revue / Journal Title

International journal of clinical practice   ISSN 1368-5031 

Source / Source

2003, vol. 57, n^o2, pp. 103-105 [3 page(s) (article)] (29 ref.)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Blackwell, Oxford, ROYAUME-UNI  (1997) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Human ; Treatment ; Review ; Perspective ; Indication ; Case history ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Sangsue ; Homme ; Traitement ; Article synthèse ; Perspective ; Indication ; Historique ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Hombre ; Tratamiento ; Artículo síntesis ; Perspectiva ; Indicación ; Histórica ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 15561, 35400011079598.0090