Improved outcome of surgical flaps treated with topical dimethylsulfoxide.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on skin flap viability.


BACKGROUND
Dimethylsulfoxide has been shown to decrease necrosis of random skin flaps in the rat model, but no human studies have been performed. The authors performed a randomized, prospective study on the effect of DMSO on skin flap viability in patients undergoing mastectomy and inguinal lymphadenectomy.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients had topical 60% DMSO applied to their flaps every 4 hours x 10 days after operation and 27 patients had operation alone. The maximum area of flap ischemia was traced by a masked observer and measured by cut and weigh technique. Significance of differences between the treatment and control group was determined by Student's test.


RESULTS
The mean area of ischemia for the DMSO group was 16.33 U versus 44.93 U for the control group. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The authors conclude that topical application of DMSO reduces skin flap ischemia in humans and recommend its use after operation in which skin flaps are created.
Rand-Luby
L
L
Department of Surgery, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, USA.
Pommier
R F
RF
Williams
S T
ST
Woltering
E A
EA
Small
K A
KA
Fletcher
W S
WS
D000287:Administration, Topical; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006119:Groin / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D013524:Surgical Flaps
D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide