Use of Primary Sutures to Stop Persistent Bleeding due to Hirudotherapy

Year 2016, Volume: 7 Issue: 3, 58 - 60, 01.07.2016

Serkan Doğan Mehmet Yiğit Özgün Canan Akman Utku Murat Kalafat Tarık Ocak

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

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