[Experimental study on the reconstruction of vascular links between a pedicle skin flap with preserved subcutaneous vascular network and its implanting bed].

A comparative study of skin flap with a preserved subcutaneous vascular network and conventional skin flap was undertaken in rats with determination of skin temperature, laser Doppler, ink perfusion, microangiography and transparent specimen technics. It was found that all the skin flaps with a preserved subcutaneous vascular network survived after transplantation. Three hours postoperation, the flap microcirculation was poorest (LDF, 28% of the preoperative value). Six hours postoperation, it began to augment, and microvessels containing ink could be seen under microscope at 24 hours, as compared to 3 days postoperation in the controls. On the fifth day, LDF returned to the preoperative level, and the diameter and density of reformed microvessels were similar to the vessels of the adjacent skin. This phenomenon only occurred on the 7th day in the controls. After division of the pedicle on the fifth day, all the flaps survived, while the controls showed partial necrosis. The results indicate that skin flaps with a preserved subcutaneous vascular network can survive on the blood flow of pedicle in the early stage, at 24 hours postoperation flap microvessels begin to reform, and on the fifth day flaps can survive on the reformed microcirculation in spite of the severance of the pedicle.