Mechanical Leeches Replace Real Ones in Modern Medicine




The Scope Radio show

Summary: If you think the use of leeches to bleed people died with the Middle Ages, you might be surprised to learn that the slimy bugs are used in modern medicine to suck out venous blood and allow room for new, oxygenated blood. But these leeches may be out of a job soon. Dr. Jay Agarwal talks about the importance of leeches in medicine and the introduction of mechanical leeches to the medical world. He also discusses why mechanical leeches may be a better medical choice than real leeches.