Effect of skin flap ischemia on plasma endothelin-1 levels.
A number of studies have been done relating to vasospasm. Vasospasm within the microvasculature of a flap can be one of the causes of ischemia and nonviability. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a 21-amino acid polypeptide isolated from vascular endothelium culture media, is reported to be one of the most potent vasoconstrictors known. This experimental study, using a rabbit epigastric island flap, was designed to investigate whether skin flap ischemia influenced plasma ET-1 levels. After the ischemic insult, blood was drawn from the venous effluent of the flaps. Plasma ET-1 levels after 6 hours of ischemia were significantly increased compared with nonischemic controls; they were 29 pM, i.e., almost enough to induce vasoconstriction of arterioles. These results suggest that ET-1 is one of the factors responsible for partial necrosis of the skin flap, which contributes to the genesis of the no-reflow phenomenon.
Matsuzaki
K
K
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
D000818:Animals; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood*; D006085:Graft Survival; D007511:Ischemia / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D011817:Rabbits; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013997:Time Factors; D014661:Vasoconstriction
D016232:Endothelins