Effects of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor on Survival of Surgical Flaps: A Review of Experimental Studies

Taolin Fang; William C. Lineaweaver; Michael B. Chen; Carson Kisner; Feng Zhang

doi:10.1055/s-0033-1345429

Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Table of Contents

J Reconstr Microsurg 2014; 30(01): 001-014
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1345429

Original Article

Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Effects of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor on Survival of Surgical Flaps: A Review of Experimental Studies

Authors

Taolin Fang

¹Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi

²Department of Orthopaedics, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
William C. Lineaweaver

³JMS Burn and Reconstructive Center, Crossgates River Oaks Hospital, Brandon, Mississippi
Michael B. Chen

¹Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
Carson Kisner

¹Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
Feng Zhang

¹Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi

Abstract

Partial or complete necrosis of skin flaps remains a significant problem in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Growth factors have shown promise in improving flap survival through increased angiogenesis and blood supply to the flap. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the most widely investigated and successful one. But the mechanisms of the effects are still not very clear. In the course of a series of experiments, we indicated that tissue survival of surgical flaps could be improved by both preoperative (sustained phase effect) and intraoperative (acute phase effect) application of VEGF. We reviewed both experimental and clinical investigations on the use of VEGF with surgical flaps to summarize the evidence of both phases of VEGF activity in promotion of flaps survival in detail. With the combinations of acute and sustained phases of effects, VEGF protein and gene, VEGF morphologic actions, and VEGF histochemical modulations suggest a pattern of VEGF activity that can be superimposed on classic descriptive mechanisms of tissue survival of flaps.

Keywords

flaps - vascular endothelial growth factor - mechanism

Full Text

References

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