THE EFFECTS OF THE INHALATIONAL ANESTHETIC AGENT COMBINATION, ISOFLURANE NITROUS-OXIDE, ON SURVIVAL IN A PIG RANDOM SKIN FLAP MODEL

Using a dorsally based, random skin flap model in 14 swine, the influe nce on skin flap survival of isoflurane used with nitrous oxide as mai ntenance anesthetic agents was examined. The mean area of skin flap su rvival was 54.9% for the experimental group compared with 28.6% in the control group. Arterial blood gas content (PO2, PCO2, and HCO3-), res piratory rate, acid-base balance, blood pressure level, pulse rate, an d temperature were monitored. Improved survival of the isoflurane-nitr ous oxide group was independent of these parameters. These data suppor t the findings of a previous study that isoflurane positively affects random skin flap survival in a swine model. Furthermore, the addition of nitrous oxide partially reduces isoflurane's beneficial effects.