Doctors in Vietnam removed a 15cm-long leech that had lived in a patient’s throat for three months.

A 63-year-old woman from Ha Giang Province in northern Vietnam arrived at the hospital complaining of constant migraines for the last three months.

Upon further inspection, the woman was diagnosed with a throat tumour that had to be removed.

However, during the surgery, doctors were surprised to find the leech living in the patient’s sinuses.

Gruesome footage captured on January 9 shows the moment one of the doctors pulls the leech out of the patient’s throat.

The leech, still alive, then writhes as it is placed on a tray.

The footage, filmed by Dr. Nguyễn Thành Nam, was shared with permission from the patient.

According to the doctors, if not detected in time, the creature would have attacked the patient's sinuses and make it difficult for the woman to breathe, among other dangers.

The woman lives in mountainous areas and often baths in spring water. Doctors believe that she may have come into contact with the leech during a bath.

Video captured the moment of Doctors conducts surgery to pick up a leech has lived in the patient's throat for 3 months.
According to the doctor, Mr. Nam Nguyen said that This was a special and rare case. The 63-year-old woman came to the hospital in a state of frequent migraine. Sometimes, she coughs and spits blood. This situation has been going on for 3 months.
After the patient's examination, Doctors diagnosed maybe the patient has a small polyp throat tumor.
However, when the surgery was performed, the doctors discovered something special. There was a live leech living in the patient's sinuses. The doctors were surprised to find the leech living in the sinuses and throat cavity of the patient.
Doctor Nam said that this was the most unbelievable thing. Usually, doctors only detect leeches in the nose or trachea.
This was the first case that doctors encounter. The surgery was more than 30 minutes long and the leech was removed. The live leech was about 15 cm long and very big.
If not detected in time, the leech will attack the patient's sinuses, making it difficult for patients to breathe, leading to many other dangers.
The woman said that she lives in mountainous areas often bathing and using spring water. This could be the cause of the leech getting into her throat. The woman felt surprised and scared to know that there was a leech in her throat. She will not bathe and use spring water anymore.
Video captured in Ha Giang Province, Viet Nam on January 9, 2019.