Effect of dipyridamole on the survival of experimental critical skin flaps

The effect of dipyridamole (Persantin) on the survival of experimental skin flaps was studied. In controls 39% of the skin flap area survived. Intraperitoneal injection of dipyridamole 4 mg/kg twice daily starting four hours preoperatively increased the surviving area with 18%. This increase is statistically significant (p less than 0.05). The improved survival could be due to the vasodilatory action of the drug and/or proliferation of small bloodvessels induced by the drug.