Ischemia/reperfusion injury in flow-through venous flaps

The effects of ischemia/reperfusion (IIR) injury in flow-through venous 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 after an IIR period (experimental groups), and flow-through venous flaps without being subjected to IIR injury (control groups) in 20 animals. On the seventh day after the onset of reperfusion, 3 of 10 flow-through venous flaps (30%) and 6 of 10 arteriovenous flaps (60%) survived in the experimental groups. Flow-through venous flaps showed a decreased survival rate compared with control and conventional flaps (p < 0.05). Tissue lipid peroxide levels were found to be higher in venous flaps during reperfusion after secondary ischemia (p < 0.05), Tissue protein oxidation and total sulfhydryl groups levels did not show any difference among groups. This study suggests that more free radical damage occurs in flow-through venous flaps during IIR injury.