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J Reconstr Microsurg 1995; 11(2): 151-155
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1006524
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1995 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Improved Efficacy of Urokinase Further Prolongs Ischemic Skin-Flap Survival

Martin B. Hirigoyen, Arvind Prabhat, Wen X. Zhang, Mark L. Urken, Hubert Weinberg
  • Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery and Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York
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Publication History

Accepted for publication 1994

Publication Date:
08 March 2008 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Salvage of a free-tissue transfer, when postoperative vascular compromise is detected, depends largely upon the restoration of a patent microcirculation. The therapeutic efficacy of thrombolytics infused directly into the failing flap has been clearly demonstrated. In this experiment, the authors investigated whether the method of selective administration of urokinase to failing skin flaps in 68 Sprague-Dawley rats had any effect on flap survival. In one group of animals, postischemic flaps were perfused with 100,000 IU of urokinase given by manual injection, and via a pressurized delivery system (150 mmHg) in the other group. Flap survival was assessed at 7 days. A significantly greater survival was seen in flaps treated with urokinase by controlled pressure infusion (p <0.01). This simple method is suggested to increase the efficacy of urokinase used in the context of flap salvage.

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