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Case Reports
. 2015 Sep-Oct;36(5):657-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2015.04.013. Epub 2015 Apr 24.

Negative suction approach to remove living leeches from the nasal cavity

Qian Cai  1 , Qiujian Chen  2 , Ping Han  2 , Faya Liang  2 , Peiliang Lin  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Negative suction approach to remove living leeches from the nasal cavity

Qian Cai et al. Am J Otolaryngol. 2015 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Objective: To explore a method for removing a living leech from the nasal cavity.

Materials and methods: A total of 5 patients with nasal leech were examined. Nasal endoscopy revealed the presence of a wriggling leech in the nasal cavities of each of these patients. A negative suction tube with an inner diameter of 3 mm and a negative pressure of 30-40 kp was used to remove these leeches. In each case, this suction tube was aimed at the free end of the leech, and the leech was gradually and slowly sucked into the tube. The suckers of the removed leeches were examined to ensure that no leech fragments remained within each patient.

Results: In all 5 cases, the intact leech was successfully removed. No surgical complications occurred.

Conclusions: The negative suction method can successfully remove nasal leeches.

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