EFFECT OF HYPERBARIC-OXYGEN ON SURVIVAL OF THE COMPOSITE EAR GRAFT INRATS

In this study the authors set out to determine whether postoperative h yperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy increases the survival rate of the comp osite graft in the rat ear model, A composite gran (1 x 0.5 cm(2)) tha t included skin, subcutaneous tissue, and cartilage was created from t he left ear, and was transferred onto the posterior auricular site of the right ear. The animals were divided into two groups: a control gro up (N = 10) and an experimental group receiving HBO (N = 10). The expe rimental group was given HBO immediately following reattachment: for 4 hours, and then for 6 hours each day for 5 days (2 atm). The results showed the average ear flap survival area in the experimental group wa s 82%, and it was 26.5% in the control group (p < 0.01). Histology dem onstrated the existence of neovascularization in the experimental grou p. We have concluded that postoperative HBO therapy increases the surv ival of the rat ear composite graft, and that the effect of this thera py is influenced by the magnitude (size and thickness) of the graft.