title: No correlation between activated protein C resistance and free flap failures in 100 consecutive patients.
abstract: This study evaluates whether thrombophilic disorders contribute to failures in microvascular surgery. A recently discovered condition is focused on, i.e., activated protein C resistance, which is a highly prevalent functional defect of a crucial endogenous anticoagulant system--the protein C anticoagulant pathway (up to 15 percent of Caucasians affected). One hundred consecutive patients were operated on with 103 free tissue transfers during a 2.5-year period, all of which received perioperative intravenous anticoagulation, principally based on dextran (1 liter) and a heparin bolus at vascular reperfusion (80 to 100 IU/kg). The patients underwent extensive laboratory analysis with respect to conditions predisposing for thrombosis. Eleven patients were found to be activated protein C resistant, and one patient had congenital protein S deficiency. There were six total and five partial flap losses, which, however, in only one case coincided with the presence of a thrombophilic disorder (activated protein C resistance). By contrast, a substantial portion of flap necroses could be related to nonconstitutional factors (for example, pedicle kinking). It is concluded that routine screening for hypercoagulable states such as activated protein C resistance is not necessary in microvascular surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arnljots
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Söderström
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Svensson
mesh_terms: D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D009336:Necrosis; D011486:Protein C / Q000378:metabolism*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D011486:Protein C