From: Scott Chase (ecphoric@hotmail.com)
Date: Mon 09 Jun 2003 - 04:56:16 GMT
>From: "Bill Hall" <bill.hall@hotkey.net.au>
>Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
>Subject: Re: never wanting to grow up
>Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2003 14:05:28 +1000
>
>Scott Chase said with his sarcasm mode on:
>
> > Yeah I could see how fortunate it has been that barbaric practices like
> > bleeding, especially using leeches in this practice, have ceased being a
> > part of the modern medical repertoire. I'd hate to think that a doctor
>in
> > our enlightened times would succumb to the "meme" of attaching a leech
>to
>a
> > patient, especially after the patient's finger has been surgically
> > reattached and restored circulation becomes a necessity [sarcasm mode
>off]
> >
>
>Interestingly enough, this is the *exact* situation where the use of
>medicinal leeches has been scientifically proven to be of genuine medical
>use. e.g., see the first Google hit on [anticoagulation leech]
>(http://www.google.com.au/search?q=leech+anticoagulation).
>
>Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development
>Vol. 39 No. 4 July/August 2002
>Pages 497-504
>Development of a mechanical device to replace medicinal leech (Hirudo
>medicinalis) for treatment of venous congestion
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>----
>
>Michael L. Conforti, DVM, MS; Nadine P. Connor, PhD; Dennis M. Heisey, PhD;
>Ray Vanderby, PhD; David Kunz, PhD; Gregory K. Hartig, MD
>Department of Research, William S. Middleton VA Hospital, Madison, WI;
>Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI
>
>Abstract: Medicinal leeches are used to treat venous congestion, a
>complication of reconstructive surgery. Despite substantial drawbacks of
>leeching, little progress has been made to develop a device that would
>replace the leech for this purpose. The goal of this study was to develop
>and test mechanical prototypes for the treatment of venous congestion. We
>tested four prototypes (1, 2, 3a, and 3b) using congested fasciocutaneous
>flaps in swine. Blood removed by each prototype was measured for up to 4
>hours. On average, the four prototypes removed 609%, 644%, 853%, and 811%
>more blood, respectively, from congested flaps versus a leech. Prototypes
>3a
>and 3b, which allowed for innovative subcutaneous chemical (3a and 3b) and
>mechanical (3b) anticoagulation at the bleeding wound, sustained high
>levels
>of blood removal for up to 4 hours. Thus, a mechanical device can
>potentially replace the use of leeches for treating venous congestion.
>
>Key words: Hirudo medicinalis, mechanical device, medicinal leech,
>reconstruction, replantation, venous congestion.
>
>Introduction
>
>INTRODUCTION
>Reconstructive surgical procedures, such as free flaps, pedicle flaps, and
>replantation of amputated tissues, often include an anastomosis between
>either surgically ligated or traumatically severed blood vessels. Venous
>congestion is a serious complication of these types of procedures and
>occurs
>when the venous outflow from a tissue is reduced relative to arterial
>input.
>Kinking or impingement on the veins and/or thrombus formation within the
>veins can cause this reduction [1-4]. If venous congestion is not corrected
>(either surgically or via some other means), the developed stasis within
>the
>vasculature of the tissue will cause the replanted region to necrose.
>
>Although medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) have been a part of medical
>practice for thousands of years, not until the advent of reconstructive
>microsurgery in the 1960s did bloodletting by the leech have a legitimate
>medical purpose. Specifically, medicinal leeches are placed upon the
>congested tissue to facilitate removal of excess blood until microvenous
>circulation can be effectively reestablished approximately 4 to 10 days
>after surgery [5-11]. Unfortunately, leeches only remove small quantities
>of
>blood from the congested tissue and cannot be relied upon to effectively
>decongest large regions of tissue. In addition, the use of leeches is
>suboptimal because of other drawbacks [12]. These drawbacks are substantial
>and include negative patient and family perception, unreliability of leech
>attachment (i.e., the leeches may not attach to, or may migrate from, the
>impaired tissue and may feed on healthy adjacent skin), excessive cost
>because of constant staff monitoring, and the possibility of infection
>[13-16].
>
>There have been several attempts in the last 10 years to develop a
>mechanical and/or chemical leech that would replace the medicinal leech
>[17-20]. Although these attempts showed some success, a clinically
>applicable product has not been developed to date, which would replace the
>use of medicinal leeches for the successful treatment of venous congestion.
>
>------------
>
>Here is another meme, "Before turning on sarcasm mode, check your facts!"
>
Ummm... medicinal use of leeches was *exactly* what I had in mind before I
went into sarcasm mode. Sarcasm is lost on the uninitiated.
Notice how I added that subtle bit about reattached fingers? I *was* being
sarcastic, in making my point that,ironialyy, a certain type of bloodletting
is still in use today.
I guess I should have said something like "Well granted the traditional
practice of bleeding is outdated, but they do use leeches these days when
reattaching some body parts", but that would be no fun. Loki and Fenris
would not be amused.
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