Augmentation of flap survival by thymoxamine

An experimental study in rats showed that the use of the alpha-receptor antagonist, thymoxamine could increase the blood supply to an ischaemic flap. Thymoxamine has a very short half-life, must be given frequently to be effective, but has the significant advantage that its action can be reversed by noradrenaline. When a flap is in trouble, alpha-receptor blockade by thymoxamine might help dramatically in its salvage.