ILOPROST IMPROVES SURVIVAL OF ISCHEMIC EXPERIMENTAL SKIN FLAPS

The ability of the prostacyclin analogue iloprost to improve survival of ischemic experimental skin flaps was investigated. Unilateral islan d skin flaps based on the superficial inferior epigastric vessels were raised in 70 rats and subjected to varying lengths of primary ischemi a. The flaps were divided into the following four groups: group I, no perfusion washout; group II, postischemic washout with lactated Ringer 's solution; group III, postischemic washout with urokinase; and group IV, post-ischemic washout with iloprost. Flap survival rates for grou p IV were significantly higher than all other groups (p < 0.05). The p rimary ischemia time at which 50% of the flaps failed was 8.9 hours fo r group I, 9.5 hours for group II, 13.3 hours for group III, and 15.3 hours for group IV. This is the first study to investigate the effect of iloprost on skin flap survival. Iloprost was found to be significan tly more effective than urokinase in salvaging ischemic experimental s kin flaps.