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The use of leeches in a case of post-operative life-threatening macroglossia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

I. M. G. Smeets  and
I. Engelberts
I. M. G. Smeets*
Affiliation:
Departments of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Maastricht, The Netherlands.
I. Engelberts
Affiliation:
Departments of Surgery. University Hospital of Maastricht, The Netherlands.
*
Address for correspondence: Dr I. M. G. Smeets, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Maastricht, P0 Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands. Fax: (+31) 43-875580
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Abstract

A case of severe macroglossia. following intraoral surgery, causing respiratory distress is described. Because conventional therapy appeared inadequate, leeches were used and proved an efficient method of reducing this life-threatening swelling of the tongue.

Keywords

Macroglossiapost-operative complicationLeeches
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 109 , Issue 5 , May 1995 , pp. 442 - 444
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1995

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Footnotes

This paper was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Dutch Society for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Zwolle, October 1994. and also at the Annual Meeting of the Dutch Society of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Amsterdam, November 1994.

References

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