Monitoring skin flaps by colour measurement.
A technique based on reflection spectrophotometry has been tested for use as a monitor of the cutaneous circulation in experimental skin flaps. A very rapid indication was given of either arterial or venous insufficiency in a previously healthy flap. Post-operative monitoring produced characteristic traces for successful and unsuccessful free flaps. The ability of this method to discriminate between a satisfactory flap, an arterial failure, and a venous failure was highly significant (P less than 0.001).
D000818:Animals; D006439:Hemodynamics; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps