Leeches Help Save Woman's Face
September 20, 2011 by UPI - United Press International, Inc.
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Sept. 20 (UPI) — Hundreds of leeches were applied to a woman’s face to treat a large wound inflicted by her own dog, doctors in Sweden said.
The woman was rushed to a hospital after the dog unexpectedly attacked her, ripping off a large piece of her face from her upper lip to her eye, The Local reported Tuesday.
After doctors worked to reattach the torn part, leeches were applied to help re-establish blood circulation to the woman’s face.
“The most important thing was to get blood into the torn off body part, which we managed to do within an hour of the start of the operation,” specialist Stina Klasson said.
The 358 leeches, by sucking blood and introducing blood-thinning fluids, helped the process.
“The grower who supplies the hospital with leeches ran out. More leeches had to be flown in from the United Kingdom,” Klasson said.
Doctors said the surgery was a success, although additional reconstructive procedures would probably be necessary.
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