The significance of distal arteriovenous shunting on skin flap survival an experimental study in pigs.

Skin flap survival was studied experimentally in porcine flaps of constant width and varied lengths. No significant differences in flap surviving lengths were noted between 4 by 12 cm and 4 by 18 cm flaps. The concept that arteriovenous shunting in the distal portion of the flap adversely affects flap survival leads to the expectation longer flaps will have shorter surviving lengths than shorter flaps of the same width. Results of this study contradicted this hypothesis. If skin flap survival is determined by a progressive decrease in perfusion pressure as distance from the base of a flap increases, then vascular demand distal to the line of capillary perfusion should be of no consequence. Results of this study are consistent with this hypothesis.