Large Prefabricated Skin Flaps Based on the Venous System in Rabbits

Abstract

Large skin flaps with good quality can be prefabricated within a shorter period for aesthetic and plastic surgery reconstruction using the inherent venous system. This technique may prove to be a viable alternative for successful flap prefabrication.

The complicated role of venous drainage on the survival of arterialized venous flaps

“…As described in detail in our previous study [1, 10], adult white Japanese rabbits of both sexes, weighing between 3.5 and 4 kg, were used. All experiments were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Wenzhou Medical University and carried out according to the ethical approval and the National Research Council's guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals.…”

“…The animal model was modified based on our previous study [1, 10]. In brief, a 10 × 8 cm (length x width) skin flap was designed symmetrically along the middle line of the abdomen; the flap was tailored including the epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, and the panniculus carnosis.…”

“…The same six rabbits selected for water content analysis in each group were used. As described in detail in our previous study [1, 10], while the rabbits were still alive and anesthetized, specimens of 1.5 × 1.5 cm in size (after harvesting the specimen of 1 × 1 cm square for water content analysis in the middle) were harvested in the center of each flap (Figure 4). The specimens were then frozen in liquid nitrogen immediately and grinded into 10% tissue homogenate.…”

“…The total protein content of the tissue lysate samples was measured using the Bradford assay [23]. The contents of glucose and lactate were determined by colorimetric assay kits (Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute, Jiangsu, China) based on the following equation: content of lactate or glucose(mmol / gprot) = [(OD of the sample tube - OD of blank tube)/(OD of standard tube-OD of standard blank tube)] × concentration of standard sample / total protein content [1]. …”

“…With the increasing aesthetic demands in plastic and reconstructive surgeries, the development of thin flaps with high quality has gained great interest in recent years [1]. A variety of flaps have been designed and utilized in clinical practice for resurfacing different kinds of soft tissue defects; however, only a few flaps are well accepted in terms of aesthetic concerns [2, 3].…”