Maggots...coming to a hospital near you

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L03566431.htm

LONDON, March 18 (Reuters) - Phyllis Hulme's family and friends were aghast when she told them doctors planned to put maggots on her leg ulcer.

"I got some horrified looks. I think they thought: she's old, she doesn't know any better, she's gone a bit gaga," said the 81-year-old, who suffers from diabetes.

"But it's been marvellous. I used to feel like screaming sometimes, the pain was so bad, and the first night they were on the pain went."

It may sound gruesome, but it turns out that maggots are remarkably efficient at cleaning up infected wounds by eating dead tissue and killing off bacteria that could block the healing process.

Maggot medicine, in fact, has a long history. Napoleon's battle surgeon wrote of the healing powers of maggots 200 years ago, and they were put to work during the American Civil War and in the trenches in World War One.

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[rockedthevoteinMA]

1. Eeeewww

:puke:

[MuseRider]

2. That was being discussed

way back when I was working in the ICU. It creeps me out but apparently it works very well. As long as it isn't me. How would you keep from scratching? It seems it would itch. I am certain they would debride a wound much better than surgery.

[Reverend_Smitty]

3. I saw a tv show about this...

the maggots will only eat dead tissue, thus leaving the viable tissue alone. It's got to be the creepiest feeling ever but I'd rather deal with the maggots than lose a leg or something.

[MuseRider]

10. They make perfect sense.

It is their lot in life to eat dead stuff. Good for them, good for us.

[NNN0LHI]

13. If my doctor suggested they may help me I wouldn't hesitate to use them nt

[NNN0LHI]

14. Double posted

[cynatnite]

5. I remember one of the doctors talking about this

We associate maggots with garbage so it does make the ICK factor greater, but when you think about it, that's what they eat.

I'd probably have to be tied down. I hate creepy crawly things.

[MuseRider]

11. I don't know what they do.

Surely they could give you some sedation but if they are on you for long they probably wouldn't. I think I heard that they put them under a dressing and quite possibly you could not feel them but I don't know. I would have a problem with the thought of it but the science of it is perfect.

[cynatnite]

17. I didn't hear how it would be done

but that makes sense. They've got to make sure the little creepies stay in one place.

ICK!

I can't help it!

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

4. That treatment is hundreds of years old.

It works very well, if you can get past the "ewwwwww" factor.

[rockedthevoteinMA]

8. Well if it works well, and it could save a body part, if they knocked

me out, I'd let them do it. I just cannot get over the eww factor.

[havocmom]

6. There reasons to use leeches for some conditions too

:shrug:

[Reverend_Smitty]

9. Leeches help getting rid of blood clots...

another ick factor, but anti-coagulant drugs can be dangerous especially if it is a localized problem

[havocmom]

15. Have read about them being used in cases of reattached limbs/digits

to restore circulation to the limb. Really good idea.

[Reverend_Smitty]

16. Sometimes the simple solutions...

of Mother Nature can do things that big Pharma cannot

[Liberal Veteran]

7. It's actually scientifically sound.

The maggots are specially bred so they don't have diseases and they will only eat dead tissue, leaving the live healthy tissue behind.

It's effective, but I have to admit that I'd have to have a big old thing of morphine nearby during the process just because it seems so creepy.

At the hospital I did my clinical at to get my pharmacy tech license, we had a big jar of leeches too.

[MuseRider]

12. So that is what

you guys in the Pharm were doing. Keeping the maggots and leeches plus all the good meds. I wondered what kept you all awake on the night shift!

[nytemare]

18. I saw something on the maggots on Discovery Health(I think)

It was VERY gross, but they seem to work.

[meow2u3]

19. So that's the reason for all the flies and mosquitoes...

swarming around the hospital?

:eyes: :crazy: :eyes: :crazy: