The effects of surgical and chemical delay procedures on the survival of arterialized venous flaps in rabbits

Han, Sang Hee; Ryu, Hyung Ho; Suh, Man Soo; Lee, Mu Sang; Cho, Byung Chae; Byun, Jin Suk; Baik, Bong Soo

Abstract

An arterialized venous flap has the advantages of being thin and pliable, utilizing a large-caliber vein with a pedicle of almost any length, as well as obviating the need to sacrifice a donor artery. However, the main disadvantage of this flap is the partial necrosis of the large flap. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a surgical delay procedure and a combined surgical and chemical delay procedure on the survival of arterialized venous flaps. Ninety New Zealand white rabbits were divided into three groups: control group, a surgical delay group and a combined surgical and chemical delay group. These groups were further divided into subgroups depending on the delay period and the chemical agents. One arterialized venous flap was made from only one ear of each rabbit due to operative mortality, and 10 rabbits were distributed to each subgroup. The arterialized venous flap had an arterial inflow by anastomosis of the central auricular artery to the anterior branch of the central auricular vein and a venous outflow through the anterior marginal vein. The results were as follows ; 1. Control group : The arterialized venous flaps without any delay procedure showed complete necrosis of all flaps. 2. Surgical delay group : The mean percentages of survival areas of arterialized venous flaps were 36.6% in the 4-day delay group, 59.7% in the 7-day delay group. 3. Combined surgical and chemical delay group: a. A 3-day chemical delay in a continuation of a 4-day simultaneous surgical and chemical delay group: The mean percentages of survival areas of the arterialized venous flaps were 81.1% in the doxazosin mesylate group, 72.8% in the nitroglycerine patch group and 92.9% in a combination group of doxazosin mesylate and nitroglycerine patch. b. A 3-day chemical delay in a continuation of a 7-day simultaneous surgical and chemical delay group : The mean percentages of survival areas of the arterialized venous flaps were 94% in the doxazosin mesylate group, 90.2% in the nitroglycerine patch group and 99% in a combination group of doxazosin mesylate and nitroglycerine patch. In conclusion, the surgical delay procedure increases the percentage of survival areas of the arterialized venous flap in proportion to the delay period. The combination group of surgical and chemical delay procedure had a significant increase of the percentage of survival areas than that of the surgical delay group(p < 0.001). The best survival of the flap was obtained from the subgroup which had a 3-day chemical delay in a continuation of a 7-day simultaneous surgical and chemical delay with combined chemical agents.