Dipyrone increases the blood flow of arterial dorsal skin flaps.

BACKGROUND

Findings have shown that dipyrone has a beneficial effect on skin flap survival. A pharmacologic explanation for this effect points to its vascular smooth muscle-relaxing effect. This study evaluated the effect of dipyrone on blood flow and thus survival of rat random dorsal skin flaps.

METHODS

For this study, 27 male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to control (treated with sterile saline) and treatment (treated with dipyrone 100 mg/kg) groups. A random dorsal skin flap measuring 4 x 10 cm was raised in each animal. The edges of the flap were sutured back into their original place. Dipyrone treatment continued at 100 mg/kg per day during the 7-day observation period. Blood flow was recorded by laser Doppler preoperatively (baseline), immediately after the flap was sutured back to its original position (acute), and on postoperative day 7. The degree of necrosis was evaluated by the grid method on day 7. Mean percentage necrosis and minimum laser Doppler readings were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

A significant increase in blood flow was observed in the dipyrone group at the acute phase but not on postoperative day 7. The percentage of the necrotic area was lower in the treatment group. However, it did not reach the significance level (p = 0.09).

CONCLUSION

Dipyrone significantly increases [corrected] skin blood flow at the acute phase of flap elevation although the necrotic area does not reach the significance level.