The treatment of patients by the use of leeches: The leech therapy that Mrs. Smith received involved the bleeding of the affected part of her body by the use of leeches which resulted in curing her ailment. .

A nursing intervention from the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) defined as application of medicinal leeches to help drain replanted or transplanted tissue engorged with venous blood.

Thousands of patients currently owe the successful reattachment of body parts to miraculous technological advances in plastic and reconstructive surgery, however at least some of these operations might have failed if leeches had not been reintroduced into the operatng room. The appendages reattached include fingers, hands, toes, legs, ears, noses and scalps.