Influence of sildenafil and buflomedil on survival of randomized flaps in rats: an experimental study

Abstract

Figueiredo JCA et al. Influence of sildenafil and buflomedil on survival of randomized flaps in rats: an experimental study Influência do buflomedil e do sildenafil na sobrevivência de retalhos randomizados em ratos: estudo experimental ABSTRACT Background: Microcirculation dysfunction, as a consequence of localized vascular insufficiency, is considered to be one of the dominant causes of surgical flap necrosis. Several vasoactive drugs have been tested for the pharmacological treatment of tissue ischemia, with varying degrees of success. This study aimed to assess the impact of buflomedil and sildenafil on the viability of random skin flaps in rats. Methods: Caudally pedicled skin flaps (10 x 3 cm) were created on the backs of rats. The animals were randomly assigned, in groups of 10, to three treatment groups: one group served as the vehicle control group, one group received buflomedil (10 mg/kg/d, orally), and a third group received the same dosage of sildenafil. Following seven days of dosing, the animals were sacrificed, and the viable flap area was determined. Results: The average viable flap area for each group was: 16.2 + 3.56 cm² (control group), 17.69 + 2.54 cm² (buflomedil group), and 18.28 + 3.74 cm² (sildenafil group). Data analysis by the Kruskal-Wallis test failed to show a statistically significant difference between the three groups. Conclusions: Neither buflomedil nor sildenafil showed a reduction in the necrotic area of random skin flaps in rats.

The Effects of Sildenafil and/or Nitroglycerin on Random-pattern Skin Flaps After Nicotine Application in Rats

“…This finding was in harmony with the results of Kaya et al 43 , Sarifakioglu et al 44 , Tsai et al 45 and Shah et al 8 who used sildenafil also as a treatment and concluded that sildenafil is able to improve skin flap survival in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, Figueiredo et al 46 , Barral et al 47 , Serin et al 4 and Ayyildiz et al 11 had revealed that sildenafil does not affect skin viability. These negative data shown by those authors for sildenafil treatment may be due to the different doses or the different routes of administration that were used.…”