Blood supply in full thickness skin autografts months after surgery.

Abstract

Studies on vascular morphology, histology, and thermometric experiments were performed on free full-thickness skin autografts in guinea pigs. 3 months after surgery partial alteration of the collagen fibers and lack of elastic fibers are evident. Analysis of vascular morphology in the affected regions reveals hyperemia in the subepidermal plexus; thermometric studies indicate that it is congestive. This congestive hyperemia also affects the perifollicular vascular network. Moreover, the arrangement of the vessels is occasionally irregular. This abnormal circulation might explain the accelerated synchronized hair growth cycles on full thickness skin autografts described by us elsewhere. It is also a conceivable cause of the acanthosis-like epidermal changes in the regions with altered fibers which we have described here.