Ischaemia reperfusion injury in pedicle skin flaps in the pig: lack of protective effect of SOD and allopurinol.

A model of ischaemia and reperfusion was established which consistently achieved a 50% reduction in viable length of random pattern pedicle skin flaps in pigs. Flaps were subjected to two periods of ischaemia and reperfusion. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) in a dose of 3000 mu/kg given intravenously and allopurinol 70 mg/kg/day orally had no effect on viable skin flap length, skin blood flow or histological characteristics of flaps. SOD polymers, which have been used in other species to delay SOD clearance, were found to cause anaphylactoid reactions in pigs.