The effects of ischemia/reperfusion (IIR) injury in flow-through venou
s flaps were evaluated in rabbits. The rates of flap survival and the
levels of lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and sulfhydryl groups
were compared between flow-through venous flaps, conventional flaps a
fter an IIR period (experimental groups), and flow-through venous flap
s without being subjected to IIR injury (control groups) in 20 animals
. On the seventh day after the onset of reperfusion, 3 of 10 flow-thro
ugh venous flaps (30%) and 6 of 10 arteriovenous flaps (60%) survived
in the experimental groups. Flow-through venous flaps showed a decreas
ed survival rate compared with control and conventional flaps (p < 0.0
5). Tissue lipid peroxide levels were found to be higher in venous fla
ps during reperfusion after secondary ischemia (p < 0.05), Tissue prot
ein oxidation and total sulfhydryl groups levels did not show any diff
erence among groups. This study suggests that more free radical damage
occurs in flow-through venous flaps during IIR injury.