Study of the delay phenomenon in axial pattern flaps in pigs.

A technique, using radioactively-tagged microspheres to measure the blood flow in delayed axial pattern flaps in the pig, is presented. The blood flow was significantly (p less than 0.01) increased in the delayed portion of these flaps, reaching maximal levels after 4 to 12 days of delay. Also, the blood flow to these flaps correlated with tissue survival during the first week after the delay (p less than 0.001).