A chimeric flap model in dogs.

Prelamination is sometimes required for reconstruction of specialized organs. The purpose of this study was to create a chimeric flap model in dogs for prelamination. The anatomy of the deep and superficial caudal epigastric vessels, which supply the rectus abdominis muscle and superficial ventral fascia, respectively, were measured in 14 dogs. Their lengths were ~30 mm with the arteries averaging 1.4 mm and veins, 2.5 mm in diameter. These vessels shared a 10-mm-long common trunk with the artery averaging 2 mm and the vein, 3.2 mm in diameter. Chimeric flaps were successfully raised in six dogs based on the common vascular trunk, and they remained well perfused 3 weeks after prelamination. The perfusion territory of the abdominal skin measured 25 cm long and 10 cm wide with methylene blue injection. This study suggests that the caudal epigastric system can be a suitable chimeric flap model in dogs.