Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026
An Experimental Human DIEP Flap Model to Investigate Preservation Strategies for Vascularized Composite Allografts and Free Flaps
Published on: December 5, 2025
Effects of venous supercharging in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap
Anne Karoline Groth1, Antônio Carlos Ligocki Campos, Carolina Gomes Gonçalves
1Post-Graduate Program in Clinical Surgery, UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil. annegroth@gmail.com
Purpose:
To evaluate the effects of venous supercharging in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap in rats.
Methods:
20 Wistar rats were randomized in 2 groups: control group (C), all had flaps raised based on the deep inferior epigastric perforator vessels (DIEP), and experimental group (E), which was identical to group C, except that the contralateral superficial inferior epigastric vein was also kept with the flap. Flow studies using laser Doppler flowmetry where performed daily in the four zones of the flap. On the 7th postoperative day rats were killed and flap survival was determined using digital planimetry.
Results:
Flow values were presented as a percentage of the baseline flow after incision of the flap edges. The surviving flap area was demonstrated as a percentage of the total flap area. Evaluation by digital planimetry showed that flap survival in group E was higher than in group C (97,38%+/-1,32%vs.44,13%+/-4,83%, p=0,0006).
Conclusion:
This study shows that venous supercharging of the rat DIEP flap results in greater flap survival.
