A study of the saphenous venous island flap in the dog without arterial inflow using a non-biological conduit across a part of the length of the vein.

This paper includes material which is a follow-up on the work of Se Min Baek et al. (1985) who demonstrated that in dogs a saphenous flap could survive without arterial inflow. Here we have repeated part of their work and confirmed it. In addition, this paper shows that in dogs a saphenous venous flap with only the cephalad venous channel intact can survive even if the vein is cut and replaced by a non-biological conduit (a polyethylene tube). A total of 13 dogs and 19 flaps were studied. The possible reasons for the survival of these flaps are discussed.