Medical Use of Blood-Sucking Leeches

A cardboard box labeled ?Emergency Medical Shipment? arrives at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, revealing a bag of leeches. Lillian Jackson quickly forwards them to the trauma unit, where nurse Rene Kopp prepares to use them on patients. Historically, leeches have been utilized for centuries in medicine, initially thought to purify blood by removing harmful fluids. This practice declined by the late 19th century, but the early 20th century saw a resurgence in their use, particularly for treating complications following surgeries that reattach severed body parts. Surgeons discovered that leeches could effectively alleviate ?venous congestion,? a dangerous condition where excess blood accumulates in reattached tissues, risking tissue death. Richard Miller, the medical director of the trauma unit, notes that leeches not only consume blood but also release anticoagulant chemicals, ensuring continued blood flow from the affected area even after they detach. This unique property makes leeches valuable in modern medical treatments.