INTEGRATED HIRUDOTHERAPY OF FACIAL FND HEADACHES
Introduction Only 25% of the facial pains are caused by somatic causes, in more than 75 % of cases they are the result of the head vegetative nodes malady, ganglionitis, which manifests itself by sensitive (pain), secretory (lacrimation, salivation, rhinorrhea) and trophic disorders, due to anatomical and functional links of vegetative ganglif with somatic nerves. Despite the great achievements of modern medicine, which concentrates on attacking the locus morbi, particularly with procaine (ultracaine) blockade, or on destruction of the affected vegetative ganglina, the pathological process further develops in more than half of the cases More effective and rational from the etiopathogenic point of view are application of medicinal leech at the ganglionitis locus and restoration of local immune resistance in the hotbed of the disease ( intranodular hirudotherapy).
Methods The results of hirudotherapy in the group of 132 patients with multiple Seat beds of facial and headaches have been documented. All of them displayed pronounced signs of ganglionitis, with disease duration from 6 months to 20 years. Usually, the course of complex hirudotherapy treatment consisted of 5 to 10 sessions once or twice a week.
Manual abdominal therapy and vacuum therapy were part of the treatment provided to all patients. Application of leeches was conducted in accordance with location of chronic pain linked to respective face and head vegetative ganglia lesions. Leeches were also applied above projection of regional lymphatic nodes draining the pathological spots, along with hypodermic injection of 0.1-0.2 ml of Tactivin in the vicinity of a leech (intranodular hirudotherapy). Simultaneously Leeches were applied over the projections of the arteries feeding the brain stem in the carotid sinus and vertebrobasilar zones, on the mastoid processes, tip of the tongue, Comprehensive treatment was provided to cure concomitant diseases, such as Thyroid dysfunction, pancreatitis, genital disorders, etc., which have a significant negative effect, causing dysfunction of neurotransmitters production involved in the formation of pathogical algic system.
Findings. The monitoring of the results of the treatment was conducted during the time spell of 6 months to 2 years. All patients demonstrated positive results. In 70 % of cases the pain disappeared completely, 30 % of the patients reported Decrease of pain. In most cases, a decrease in pain intensity occurred already during the first session when the leech was applied. In parallel with arresting of chronic pain, symptoms of accompanying diseases disappeared.
Conclusion The success seems to be achieved due to the fact that the use of Complex hirudoterapy method helped to achieve generall (resorptive) rehabilitation of vegetative responses. At the same time, a significant role in the elimination of pain belongs to the liquidation of the immunodeficiency lacunas around seat beds of ganglionitis with the help of inranodotherapy.
Restoration of capillary circulation and lymphatic drainage enhance interstitial transport with simultaneouse improvement of blood rheology in the pathological area. Thus, the efftectiveness of introduction of hirudotherapy methods into therapeutic treatment of patients with facial headaches may be considered as an established result.