Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1992-3-4
pubmed:abstractText
Venous congestion is a constant threat in the survival of free flaps, pedicled flaps, tissue replantations and traumatized tissue. Leech therapy has proved effective in salvaging much of these compromised tissues. To be effective, leeches must be both readily available and hungry, requirements not always easily met. Our investigation seeks to establish a means to return sated leeches to their previous unfed, hungry state for reuse. Sated leeches were purged of their blood meals by placement in 3% hypertonic saline or by gentle finger pressure, then exposed to serotonin 0 microM (control), 10 microM, 30 microM or 90 microM for 20 min. Subsequent rebiting/refeeding was observed and analysed. Leeches bathed in serotonin rebit or reattached at nearly four times the rate of unexposed leeches; 30% vs 8% respectively. Biting, however, is not refeeding. Overall, 41 leeches were treated with serotonin with four (10%) refeeding. Those that refed consumed a significantly smaller blood meal than the initial feeding; 50% +/- 47% SD vs 348% +/- 143% SD of original body weight. None of the control group refed. As a method for routinely reusing leeches, serotonin bathing cannot be recommended. In the immediate postoperative period with the sudden emergence of venous congestion requiring leech therapy, but with an inadequate number available, this 20% [corrected] refeed rate after 10 microM serotonin exposure could potentially determine the success or failure of the flap/replantation until fresh leeches are made available.
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Feb
pubmed:issn
0957-5235
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
2
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
197-200
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1991
pubmed:articleTitle
Leech therapy: when once is not enough.
pubmed:affiliation
University of Southern California School of Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Children's Hospital, Los Angeles 90027.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study, Review