[Influence of the anatomy of the pedicle on the survival of venous vascularized flaps. Experimental study on the rat].

The aim of this work was to compare the survival of an arteriovenous island flap with the survival of an island flap with a venous supply. The anatomy of the pedicule was modified to assess the conditions of survival. Our experimental studies were performed on 125 Wistar rats randomised into eight groups. Group 1: control group of epigastric flaps deprived of vascularisation. Group 2: control group of abdominal transverse flaps with arteriovenous supply. Group 3: control group of epigastric flaps with arteriovenous supply. Groupe 4: through-flow abdominal transverse venous flaps. Group 5: epigastric through-flow venous flaps with a main venous trunck. Group 6: epigastric flaps with nervous and perivenous pedicule. Group 7: epigastric flaps with nervous and venous pedicule. Group 8: epigastric flaps with through-flow nervous and venous pedicule. Twenty-four additional rats were histologically assessed. The survival of flaps was monitored by direct examination and histological examination. Two out of the 20 flaps of group 4 survived as well as two out of the 30 flaps of group 5. Four of the 15 flaps of group 8 partially survived around the pedicule area. The venous vascularisation does not explain the survival of so-called venous flaps. The survival is increased by through-flow venous supply, and preservation of perivenous tissues.