The effect of local application of natural hirudin on random pattern skin flap microcirculation in a porcine model

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of local administration of hirudin in improving random pattern skin flap microcirculation in a porcine model. Five Chinese minipigs were used and six dorsal random pattern skin flaps were elevated in each animal (4 × 14 cm). All flaps (n = 30) were assigned to experimental (n = 10), control (n = 10), and sham (n = 10) groups. Flap edema measurement showed that edema in experimental flaps was more severe (P < 0.05) than either control or sham flaps. Local blood flow detection showed an increased image signal of blood flow in experimental flaps instead of an obvious avascular area in control and sham flaps. The survival area was significantly greater in experimental group (67.6 ± 2.1 %) as compared to control (45.2 ± 1.4 %) or sham (48.3 ± 1.1 %) group (P < 0.05). Our data showed that local administration of hirudin can significantly improve random pattern skin flap microcirculation in over dimensioned random pattern skin flaps in a porcine model.