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Assessing the effects of melatonin and N-acetylcysteine on the McFarlane flap using a rat model
Süphan Tunç1, Erol Kesiktas2, Yeliz Yilmaz3
1Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Rize State Hospital, Rize, Turkey.
Objective:
To determine the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and melatonin, alone and in combination, on McFarlane flap viability in a rat model.
Methods:
Forty Wistar rats were divided into four groups and received daily intraperitoneal injections for one week before surgery: control (sham [n=10]); melatonin (n=10); NAC (n=10); and NAC+melatonin (n=10). One week after surgery, the experiment was terminated and photographs were taken for topographic studies. A transillumination study was performed to observe vascularization in the flaps and biopsies were obtained for histopathological studies.
Results:
Flap viability was significantly greater in the antioxidant- (ie, NAC and melatonin) treated groups compared with the control group; however, there were no significant differences among the groups that received antioxidants.
Conclusions:
Melatonin and NAC are important antioxidants that can be used alone or in combination to increase flap viability and prevent distal necrosis in rats.
