ATTENUATION OF VASOSPASM AND CAPILLARY NO-REFLOW BY ISCHEMIC PRECONDITIONING IN SKELETAL-MUSCLE

Vasospasm and capillary no-reflow are common complications following r eplantation and free flap transfer. The purpose of the present study w as to clarify whether vasospasm and capillary no-reflow which are indu ced by prolonged warm ischemia/reperfusion can be attenuated by ischem ic preconditioning in the vascular isolated cremaster muscle model. Ma le Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with pentobarbital. Arteriole diameter and capillary perfusion were measured utilizing intravital m icroscopy. In the control group, the cremasters sustained 4-hour warm global ischemia followed by 60-minute reperfusion. In the ischemic pre conditioning group, the cremasters were subjected to one cycle of 45-m inute ischemia followed by 15-minute reperfusion prior to 4-hour warm global ischemia followed by 60-minute reperfusion. The results from th is experiment showed that ischemic preconditioning significantly atten uated ischemia/reperfusion-induced vasospasm and capillary no-reflow w hich occur early during reperfusion after prolonged warm ischemia in s keletal muscle. The mechanism of this phenomenon remains to be elucida ted. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.