Preservation of skin free-flap using trehalose

In this study, we looked for a solution able to preserve traumatically amputated tissues such as nose tip, ear, and scalp for at least 48 hr that was easy to handle and low in price. Trehalose is a nonreducing disaccharide that can protect many prokaryotes, fungi, and yeasts against adverse conditions by stabilizing cell membranes. In order to study its protective effect, 60 skin free-flaps of the ears of rabbits were preserved in Euro-Collins (EC) solution or in modified Euro-Collins solution in which 7% trehalose replaced glucose (EC + 7%T) for 24, 48, and 72 hr at 4 degrees C. After completion of preservation, these flaps were transferred to the other ear with microvascular anastomosis. After 7 days, we obtained a survival rate of 100% of flaps after preservation for 24 hr in both solutions. But, after preservation for 48 hr or longer, this decreased to 60% (6 of 10 preserved flaps survived) in EC solution and 90% (9 of 10 flaps) in EC + 7%T solution. This difference became clearer after 72 hr of preservation, when the survival rate was higher and light microscopic observation showed less damage for flaps preserved in EC + 7%T solution (20% in EC and 70% in EC + 7%T) (P < 0.05). Thus, EC + 7%T solution was superior to EC solution in the preservation of skin free-flaps of the ear of rabbits. Trehalose shows great promise in the preservation of many organs, including storage of traumatically amputated tissues such as nose tip, ear, and scalp.