Aspirin is known to increase dermal perfusion and is commonly used to enhan
ce anastomotic patency in microvascular surgery. However, we were unable to
find any reports of an effect of aspirin on simple flap survival. In order
to determine its effect on flap survival, a controlled experiment was desi
gned using random pattern flaps in rats. The results indicate a statistical
ly significant increase in flap survival in rats receiving aspirin. It is s
uggested that aspirin's anti-aggregation effect, in combination with its va
sodilatational and anti-inflammatory effect, increases the perfusion in the
initial critical hours and thus secondarily decreases the reperfusion inju
ry.