Knight K R, Kawabata H, Coe S A, Angus J A, O'Brien B M, Sakai K
Microsurgery Research Centre, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
J Surg Res. 1991 Feb;50(2):119-23. doi: 10.1016/0022-4804(91)90233-c.
Prostacyclin, the stable prostacyclin analogue carbacyclin, the thromboxane synthetase inhibitor UK-38,485, and the phosphodiesterase inhibitor dipyridamole were tested on rabbit epigastric free flaps for their ability to improve flap survival after a period of ischemia. Control flaps infused with a balanced salt solution had a 39.9% survival, whereas prostacyclin, carbacyclin, and dipyridamole significantly increased flap survival to 68.4% (P less than 0.05), 66.4% (P less than 0.05), and 66.9% (P less than 0.05), respectively. UK-38,485 improved survival slightly to 47.6% although not significantly. The improved flap survival correlated with the vasodilatory properties of the three successful agents whereas the antithrombotic properties of UK-38,485 were not sufficient, on their own, to increase flap survival.
