Use of Primary Sutures to Stop Persistent Bleeding due to Hirudotherapy

Abstract

Introduction: The use of medicinal leeches for treatment purposes is known as hirudotherapy. Hirudotherapy has long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of chronic pain, particularly in the back and knees. However, it may cause complications such as local infections, allergy, and continued bleeding. This report discusses the effectiveness of primary sutures in controlling continued bleeding caused by hirudotherapy in three patients who presented to the emergency department.Case Report: Three patients presented to the emergency department because of bleeding in the region of where leeches were used for treating back pain. Vital signs of the patients were normal and have any diseases. Persistent bleeding stopped after primary suturing of the wounds. Conclusion: Indications and contraindications of hirudotherapy should be identified in a detail by researches. Practitioners of this therapy should be informed of the use and removal of leeches to prevent the occurrence of complications

Keywords

• Back pain, bleeding, hirudotherapy, leech

References

1. Munshi Y, Ara I, Rafique H, Ahmad Z. Leeching in the history- a review. Pak J Biol Sci 2008; 11: 1650-3. [CrossRef]
2. Papavramidou N, Christopoulou-Aletra H. Medicinal use of leeches in the texts of ancient Greek, Roman and early Byzantine writers. Intern Med J 2009; 39: 624-7. [CrossRef]
3. Yantis MA, O’Toole KN, Ring P. Leech therapy. Am J Nurs 2009; 109: 36-42. [CrossRef]
4. Teut M, Warning A. Leeches, phytotherapy and physiotherapy in osteo- arthrosis of the knee-a geriatric case study. Forsch Komplementmed 2008; 15: 269-72.
5. Munro R, Hechtel FO, Sawyer RT. Sustained bleeding after a leech bite in the apparent absence of hirudin. Thromb Haemost 1989; 61: 366-9.
6. Saha M, Nagi S. Intraperitoneal leech: A rare complication of leech bite. J Indian Assoc Pediat Surg 2011; 16: 155-7. [CrossRef]
7. Ikizceli I, Avsarogulları L, Sozuer E, Yurumez Y, Akdur O. Bleeding due to a medicinal leech bite. Emerg Med J 2005; 22: 458-60. [CrossRef]
8. Etemadi J, Ardalan MR, Motavali R, Tubbs RS, Shoja MM. Thrombotic microangiopathy as a complication of medicinal leech therapy. South Med J 2008; 101: 845-7. [CrossRef]

9. Mory RN, Mindell D, Bloom DA. The leech and the physician: biology, etymology, and medical practice with Hirudinea medicinalis. World J Surg 2000; 24: 878-83. [CrossRef]
10. Fedor PJ. Novel use of a hemostatic dressing in the management of a bleeding leech bite: a case report and review of the literature. Wilder- ness Environ Med 2012; 23: 44-8. [CrossRef]
11. Zengin S, Yarbil P, Kilic H, Al B. Prolonged bleeding due to a medicinal leech bite: another treatment method, primary suture. BMJ Case Re- ports 2012; 13: 1-4. [CrossRef]