OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of High Voltage Pulsed Current (HVPC) on the integration of total skin grafts in rats submitted to nicotine action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For this purpose, 60 adult Wistar rats randomly distributed in 6 groups of 10 animals were analyzed. The electrical stimulation (anodic and cathodic stimulation, motor level, 30 min at 10 Hz; minimum voltage 20 μs and 100 μs pulse interval) was applied for seven days, starting on the third day after surgery and after the dressing was removed from the graft.

RESULTS

Anodic HVPC promoted greater graft integration, demonstrating a lower percentage of tissue contraction, a lower number of inflammatory infiltrates and a greater amount of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), as well as a higher number of newly formed blood vessels.

CONCLUSIONS

HVPC can positively influence the integration of skin grafts in nicotine-treated rats. anodic HVPC is shown to promote greater integration in relation to a lower percentage of tissue contraction, a lower number of inflammatory infiltrates and a greater amount of vascular endothelial growth factor and newformed blood vessels. Whereas, the cathodic polarity has presented smaller amount of tissue gap.