Use of the guinea pig flank flap in skin flap research

A variety of flaps in laboratory animals have been designed that propose to parallel the behavior of human skin under different experimental conditions. In the search for a readily available and affordable island skin flap model that combines reliable anatomy with a pedicle of substantial size, we have designed in the guinea pig a cutaneous flap based on the superficial circumflex iliac artery and vein. In 22 adult female Hartley guinea pigs, an 8 x 4 cm flank flap based on the superficial circumflex iliac pedicle was raised, and its characteristics were evaluated for applications to skin flap research. Dermofluorometric studies were performed that confirm the vascularity of this flap, and 100% survival of the flap was seen 5 days after surgery in all animals. Of particular benefit was the demonstration that both afferent and efferent blood samples can be taken from the pedicle directly, which allows for the direct quantification of plasma markers after physiologic insults to the skin flap, such as burn or ischemia. This anatomically reliable and easily dissected flap lends itself well to preliminary skin flap research and may contribute to standardization of a model for further studies examining the behavior of skin microcirculation under adverse physiologic conditions.