FLUSHING THE VESSEL ENDS - THE EFFECT ON ISCHEMIC FREE-FLAP SURVIVAL

During vascular anastomosis of experimental ischemic free flaps it is common to observe that stagnant blood in the vessel ends has clotted. A study was performed to investigate if flushing away the stagnant blo od on division of the vessels would increase flap survival. Flushing d id not influence flap survival. Clinically, clot is rarely seen, excep t conditions of prolonged ischemia or damaged vessels. Current surgica l practice does not involve flushing the vessel ends upon division of the vessels and this approach is affirmed by our results. (C) 1994 Wil ey-Liss, Inc.