They keep your blood from coagulating and I think that why they’re so useful medically, especially when the docs are trying to re-attach a finger or toe.
I think.
Especially after injuries where the blood can either pool and the body part can die from lack of circulation or you can have a series of creepy leaches on you for a few days as your body repairs its blood vessels.
Sad part is, as “medical devices,” used sterile leeches have to be incinerated after use, as do sterile maggots. No releasing them into the wild for their daring service.
I am a pharmacist and have had the pleasure of actually ordering these things from (wait for it…) LeechesUSA.com and dispensing them to the nurses for applying them to the patients who needed them.
Interestingly, at our hospital, the nurses who work the overnight shift tended to have limited English skills as a majority of them were from the Phillipines. I tried explaining that, according to the ‘manufacturer’, to destroy the leeches thay are to be dumped into a container filled with rubbing alcohol. This kills them by causing them to vomit up all the blood they drank, and then, the most “interesting” part… they vomit something that looks like their digestive system. It’s very nasty. I feel bad for them. But then again, who wants to re-use a leech? I’ve taken SO many classes and seen SO many diseases…. Can you say bloodborne pathogens?
But anyhow, this one Pinay nurse… she never quite got the memo on how to do this so she just put the poor creature back in the tank with the other leeches to be used on the patient. And then called ME to come take it out. Needless to say, it was a highlight of my employment at that hospital. These things can swim, crawl, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they can jump.
ick
SCIENCE!
Science!
Squish’em! Squish’em ALL!
I still can’t see leeches witho thinking about the scene in Stand By Me.
They eat your blood.
They keep your blood from coagulating and I think that why they’re so useful medically, especially when the docs are trying to re-attach a finger or toe.
I think.
Especially after injuries where the blood can either pool and the body part can die from lack of circulation or you can have a series of creepy leaches on you for a few days as your body repairs its blood vessels.
Sad part is, as “medical devices,” used sterile leeches have to be incinerated after use, as do sterile maggots. No releasing them into the wild for their daring service.
I am a pharmacist and have had the pleasure of actually ordering these things from (wait for it…) LeechesUSA.com and dispensing them to the nurses for applying them to the patients who needed them.
Interestingly, at our hospital, the nurses who work the overnight shift tended to have limited English skills as a majority of them were from the Phillipines. I tried explaining that, according to the ‘manufacturer’, to destroy the leeches thay are to be dumped into a container filled with rubbing alcohol. This kills them by causing them to vomit up all the blood they drank, and then, the most “interesting” part… they vomit something that looks like their digestive system. It’s very nasty. I feel bad for them. But then again, who wants to re-use a leech? I’ve taken SO many classes and seen SO many diseases…. Can you say bloodborne pathogens?
But anyhow, this one Pinay nurse… she never quite got the memo on how to do this so she just put the poor creature back in the tank with the other leeches to be used on the patient. And then called ME to come take it out. Needless to say, it was a highlight of my employment at that hospital. These things can swim, crawl, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they can jump.
Thank you.
I’m stuck working as a bedpan jockey on a surgical oncology unit… this is awesome.
Suddenly…
LEECHES!
THOUSANDS OF THEM!
This is not a room where you want to throw stones…