Abstract
Background Limited survival area is an intractable problem in the clinical practice of prefabricated
flaps. This study compared four strategies to find an effective method and to understand
the potential mechanisms for supercharging.
Methods A prefabricated abdominal flap rodent model was prepared. Rats were randomly divided
into five groups (n = 6/group). (A) Control group: prefabricated right side femoral vessels. Based on
group A, various prefabricated vessels were added; (B) proximal venous supercharging
group: right side superficial inferior epigastric vein (SIEV); (C) proximal arterial
supercharging group: right side superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA); (D)
distal venous supercharging group: left side SIEV; and (E) distal arterial supercharging
group: left side SIEA. Macroscopic analysis, near-infrared fluorescence imaging, and
microscopy were used to analyze the survival area, fluorescence area, and capillary
density.
Results No significant differences in survival areas were found among supercharging groups
(B–E), which were larger than in the control group. Near-infrared fluorescence imaging
showed the areas of control and venous supercharging groups (A, B, and D) were smaller
than in arterial groups (C and E). Capillary density areas in the right part of the
flap in proximal supercharging groups (B and C) and left part of the flap in distal
supercharging groups (D and E) were all greater than group A, with no significant
differences among the other groups.
Conclusion Enhanced neovascularization is a useful supercharging strategy. Both arterial and
venous vessel supercharging improved the survival area of prefabricated flaps.
Keywords
prefabricated flaps - microcirculation - supercharging
