Hirudotherapy in deep vein thrombosis

Abstract

In Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) the clot gets adhered within the venous lumen. It is most commonly found in lower limb and this entity can lead to complication like pulmonary embolism. This condition is usually precipitated after orthopaedic surgery, post traumatic, after pregnancy or after chronic ailment. Acute DVT is a well-recognized contributor to increased morbidity and mortality fallowing trauma and elective musculoskeletal procedures. Doppler study reveals the distribution of thrombus and one can go for probe compressibility and vessels diameter to diagnose DVT. Colour Doppler is more sensitive and also facilitates localization of vessels. We are able to identify the morphology of thrombus according to echogenicity whether it is anechoic or hypoechoic as a criteria to determine the chronicity of thrombus which correlated with the duration of complaints of the patient. In Unani system of medicine is based on the principal of humours and these body humours should be restored with adequate quantity and quality. The derangement in the four humours leads to different disease conditions. It is believed that in DVT the thrombotic material is formed due to derangement of the different humours which leads to the deposition of waste material / blood clots in venous system and the most prone vessel is great siphonous vein. The aim of the study is to evaluate the role of Hirudotherapy to resolve the thrombus.