Modification in Flap Design of the Epigastric Artery Flap in Rats–A New Experimental Flap Model

Adenovirus-mediated transforming growth factor-β ameliorates ischemic necrosis of epigastric skin flaps in a rat model1, 2

“…The epigastric skin island flap model in this study has been previously described with a modification in flap design [3,4]. In this model, based solely on the ipsilateral inferior epigastric vessels, the contralateral distal corner of the flap represents the random portion, which predictably undergoes necrosis, amounting up to 30% of the total flap area.…”

“…Care was taken to elevate the panniculus carnosus with the overlying skin flap and meticulous hemostasis was obtained. The flap was raised in such a way that the lateral branch of the ipsilateral epigastric artery was excluded and the flap received its blood supply only from the medial artery branch [3]. Then, the inferior epigastric vessels were located bilaterally.…”

“…Therefore, continuous effort has been undertaken in the last decades to improve blood flow and increase tissue perfusion in various ischemically challenged experimental flaps. Among them, the dorsal random-pattern flap [1] and the epigastric skin flap [2][3][4] models in rat are most widely used. Various methods have been used in an attempt to enhance tissue survival in the most distal parts of these flaps that undergo certain amount of necrosis.…”

Perfusion, viability, and pedicle dependence in acute and delayed rat island skin flaps

“…Subsequently, the animal was systemically perfused with 15 lm blue fluorescent microspheres according to the protocol described below. Following the first perfusion, the outlined 8 3 8 cm 2 flap was elevated 1 based exclusively on the medial branch of the proximal right epigastric vessels as described previously, 7,8 and the second systemic perfusion with 15 lm yellow-green fluorescent microspheres was performed (Fig. 1).…”

Adenovirus‐mediated angiopoietin‐1 gene therapy enhances skin flap survival

“…2). 17,18 The flap was pedicled solely on the right inferior epigastric vessels. The flap was designed so that only the medial branch of the epigastric artery supplied blood to the flap.…”