Postischemic flap washout with hydroxyethyl starch (HAES) and its beneficial effect on the no-reflow phenomenon in rat skin island flaps

Abstract

This study investigated the possible effect of hydroxyethyl starch (HAES) as a postischemic perfusion washout on survival of skin flaps. Forty-eight, male, Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this experiment. A 4×6 cm unilateral island skin flap based on the superficial inferior epigastric artery and vein was raised. The femoral neurovascular bundle supplying the flap pedicle was also dissected free. The flaps were divided into four groups, each consisting of 12 rats. Group 1 (Nonishemic control); Group 2 (Control) – no perfusion washout; Group 3 (Saline) – postischemic washout with normal saline solution; Group 4 (HAES) – postischemic washout with hydroxyethyl starch 10% (HAES) solution. The flaps were subjected to 11 hours of warm ischemia. Thirty minutes prior to the completion of the ischemic period, the flaps were perfused with normal saline solution in group 3 and with HAES in group 4. The percentage of flap survival was assessed on postoperative day 7. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student’s t-test. Flap survival rates for Group 4 (HAES) were significantly greater than Group 2 (Control nonperfusion washout) and Group 3 (saline solution) (p<0.001). This is the first study to investigate the effect of HAES on skin flap survival based on the results, HAES solution may be useful in clinical practice.