[Free skin-adipose tissue flap transplantation in rats]

An important precondition for the clinical application of the free flap transplantation with microvascular anastomoses is the training in the animal experiment. With some fundamental anatomical observations concerning the vessels of the skin and types of flaps the suitability of different laboratory animals is demonstrated. The technique of the free composite flap transplantation utilizing the abdominal flap of the rat is described. This flap model is not only suitable for test the success of the microvascular suture, but is also useful in cases of special pharmacological, pathological and physiological problems of the free flap transplantation.