Significance of deep body thermometer for assessing haemodynamics of free flaps

A deep body thermometer was used in 13 cases of microvascular tissue transfer in order to assess the post-operative haemodynamics of the flaps. Nine of 10 cases involving free skin flaps demonstrated good blood flow by the temperature recovery curves in cooling and rewarming (CR) tests conducted immediately and 6 to 12 hours after operation but in the tenth, anastomotic problems were predicted by the tests. None of the three musculocutaneous flap cases demonstrated good blood flow patterns initially but two were good at 6 hours and did well. The third had a poor pattern at 6 hours and suffered partial necrosis. This study confirmed that it is possible to assess the state of circulation in a flap by the CR test after free flap transfer.