Measurement of alternative blood flow in the porcine panniculus carnosus myocutaneous flap
C. W. Cummings and R. E. Trachy
The dependence of a transposed myocutaneous flap on its own vascular
pedicle for survival is time-related. The number of days required to
establish effective sustaining perfusion from the periphery was assessed.
Based on flap perfusion with associated vascular compression as monitored
by the laser Doppler and dermofluorometer, adequate perfusion levels
occurred at days 7 to 10 in the pig panniculus carnosus myocutaneous flap.
It was established that all flaps will survive independent of the vascular
pedicle when the laser Doppler readings are above 40 mV and the
dermofluorometric readings are above 20%. The establishment of this
baseline information now allows for the investigation of pharmacologic
manipulation of the blood flow to diminish the duration of dependence on
the transposed vascular pedicle.