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J Reconstr Microsurg 2014; 30(05): 335-342
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1363326
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Comparing Various Surgical Delay Methods with Ischemic Preconditioning in the Rat TRAM Flap Model

Ani Cinpolat
1   Department of Plastic Surgery, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
,
Gamze Bektas
1   Department of Plastic Surgery, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
,
Nesil Coskunfirat
2   Department of Anesthesiology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
,
Zumreta Rizvanovic
3   Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Adana Numune Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey
,
O. Koray Coskunfirat
4   Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

20 May 2013

02 November 2013

Publication Date:
17 December 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Both surgical delay and ischemic preconditioning (IP) have been shown to be effective in improving the survival of flaps. We used a variety of flap delay methods and IP to increase the surviving area of the transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap in rats, and the results are compared in between. A 6- × 3-cm–sized TRAM flap in 40 Wistar rats was allocated into five groups. Group 1: TRAM flap was elevated from nondominant pedicle, and the flap was sutured to the original bed. Group 2: Left superior deep epigastric vessels (SDEV) were cut; 1 week later, TRAM flap was elevated. Group 3: Only skin incision was done; 1 week later, TRAM flap was elevated. Group 4: Skin incision was done, and the left SDEV were cut; 1 week later, TRAM flap was elevated. Group 5: TRAM flap was elevated; IP was performed using three cycles of 10 minutes of repeated ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) periods, and the flap was sutured to the original bed. The surviving area of the flap was statistically significant between the control and groups 2, 4, and 5 (p < 0.001), and groups 4 and 2 were superior to group 5. Although preconditioning has been intensively studied for the last two decades and partly provided its beneficial effects in I/R injury, we determined the IP increased the surviving area of the TRAM flap but not effective as much as surgical delay method.

Keywords

ischemic preconditioning - surgical delay - TRAM flap
 

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