Supercharging Strategies for Prefabricated Flaps in a Rat Model

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Limited survival area remains a significant challenge in clinical applications of prefabricated flaps.
• Supercharging strategies are explored to enhance flap viability and expand survival zones.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare four supercharging strategies for prefabricated flaps in a rodent model.
• To elucidate the mechanisms underlying flap survival enhancement through supercharging.

Main Methods:

• A prefabricated abdominal flap rodent model was established with five groups: control, proximal venous supercharging (SIEV), proximal arterial supercharging (SIEA), distal venous supercharging (SIEV), and distal arterial supercharging (SIEA).
• Survival area, fluorescence distribution, and capillary density were assessed using macroscopic analysis, near-infrared fluorescence imaging, and microscopy.

Main Results:

• All supercharging groups exhibited larger survival areas than the control group, with no significant differences among supercharging methods.
• Arterial supercharging groups showed greater fluorescence areas compared to venous supercharging and control groups.
• Capillary density was increased in supercharged flaps, particularly in proximal and distal regions corresponding to the supercharging vessel's origin.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced neovascularization via supercharging is a viable strategy to improve prefabricated flap survival.
• Both arterial and venous supercharging effectively increase the survival area of prefabricated flaps, with arterial routes showing enhanced perfusion.