Remove a leech longer than 6 cm from the patient's trachea.
(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of January 5th, Doan Ket Multi-Specialty Clinic (Quy Hop district) removed a live leech from the trachea of a 53-year-old male patient, LVT, from Tri Le commune, Que Phong district, using endoscopic techniques.
Patient T presented to the clinic with symptoms of persistent coughing up fresh blood for 10 days. Upon examination and endoscopy, doctors discovered a wriggling leech in the patient's trachea.
Shortly afterward, the patient underwent endoscopic surgery under anesthesia, and the leech was removed. The leech, measuring over 6 cm in length, was living parasitically in the subepiglottis of the trachea.
It is known that the patient frequently goes into the forest and often drinks water from streams. It is highly likely that the leech entered the patient's larynx due to drinking the stream water.
After the foreign object was removed, the patient breathed easily and stopped coughing and expectorating.
Doctors advise people not to drink water from rivers, streams, ponds, or lakes that has not been boiled or treated. Leeches parasitizing the body will suck blood and damage organs if not detected early. If any unusual symptoms appear, seek medical attention and treatment promptly.
