![]() ![]() Leeches are used intentionally in reconstructive surgery where a flap or replanted digit has developed venous congestion. Land leeches can penetrate thick skin, while aquatic leeches attach to mucous membranes leading to prolonged bleeding. ![]() An adult leech can ingest 1 milliliter per minute of blood, and the area of attachment can bleed for 10 hours to as long as 7 days in some instances. Leeches have continued to be used in modern medicine primarily in reconstructive surgery. Historically, leeches have been used for medicinal purposes with the earliest recorded being 1500 BC. A minority of these are sanguinivorous and the cause of human morbidity. Leeches are hermaphroditic parasites of phylum Annelida and class Hirudinea. Outline the importance of improving care coordination among interprofessional team members to improve outcomes for patients affected by leech bite.Summarize the treatment of a leech bite.Describe the presentation of a patient with a leech bite.Review the toxins present in leech saliva. ![]() This activity reviews the pathophysiology of leech bites and highlights the role of the interprofessional team in its management. ![]()
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