Survival following vascular compromise in an island skin flap.

A model for evaluating vascular compromise in an island skin flap is presented. Survival is seen earliest following loss of the artery. Both artery and vein ligation groups show equal survival from the second day on with complete survival after the third day. Longer healing, up to 5 days, is required before the loss of both vessels can be withstood. Survival of island flaps in Wistar rats is not dependent on circulation through the vascular pedicle after 3 to 5 days.