The Effect of Location of Venous Pedicle on the Survival of Island Flaps in White Rats.

Choi, Jong Woo; Shin, Seung Yup; Kang, Yoon Jae; Ahn, Sang Tae

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Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 2000;27(2):154-158.
Published online March 1, 2000.

The Effect of Location of Venous Pedicle on the Survival of Island Flaps in White Rats.

Jong Woo Choi, Seung Yup Shin, Yoon Jae Kang, Sang Tae Ahn

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The Catholic University of Korea.

Abstract

It has been known that the improved drainage of a flap increases its survival and the increasing number of draining vein improves survival of flaps. But recently, researches have proved that the different orientation of venous outflow on the island flap is more important than the number of outflow tracts. The purpose of this study is to investgate the survival rates of flaps with various numbers or locations of draining veins. An 6 X 7cm flap was raised on the abdomen of 40 white rats (Sprague-Dowley, 350 - 400 gm). Rats were divided into 4 groups and each group consisted of 10 rats. In group 1 (A l$ flaps were based on the inferior epigastric artery and vein on the ipsilateral side. In group 2 (A-V), flaps were based on the inferior epigastric artery on the ipsilateral side and the inferior epigastric vein on the contralateral side. In group 3 (AV-V), flaps were based on the inferior epigastric artery and vein on the ipsilateral side and the inferior epigastric vein on the contralateral side. In group 4 (Av-V), flaps were based on the inferior epigastric artery and lateral thoracoepigastric vein on the ipsilateral side and the inferior epigastric vein on the contralateral side. A definite assessment was made on the seventh day after flap elevation. The necrotic areas of flaps were determined with Computer Image Analysis System and barum-sulfate microangiographys were performed The necrotic area was 38.14% in group 1, 18.73% in group 2, 33.53% in group 3, and 31.94% in group 4 respectively. The microangiographs showed striking digerences in the vascular pattern in the flaps, and numerous collaterals and dilated anastomotic vessels were observed in group 2. These data indicate that the location of draining vein is more important than the number, and proper location of the draining vein allows the recruitment of an adjacent angiosome and can improve the survival rates of island flap.

Keywords: Island flap; Venous pedicle

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