A single postoperative application of nitroglycerin ointment does not increase survival of cutaneous flaps and grafts.
BACKGROUND
Nitroglycerin is a vasodilator that has been reported to improve cutaneous flap and graft survival. It has not been tested in controlled studies.


OBJECTIVE
We designed our study to test the effectiveness of a single postoperative application of nitroglycerin on flap and graft survival.


METHODS
Eighty-eight surgical repairs received topical nitroglycerin and 85 received control ointment (polysporin). Treatment sites were evaluated on postoperative day 7 and assigned a percentage of surface area survival.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the complication rate of flaps and grafts treated with nitroglycerin (12.5%) compared with those treated with control ointment (8.4%) (P = .244). Subset analysis of flaps as a group and grafts as a group were not meaningful because the complication rates were so low.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no survival increase of flaps and grafts treated with a single application of nitroglycerin ointment.
Dunn
C L
CL
Shadyside Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Brodland
D G
DG
Griego
R D
RD
Huether
M J
MJ
Fazio
M J
MJ
Zitelli
J A
JA
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D015580:Mohs Surgery; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009824:Ointments; D011182:Postoperative Care; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D009824:Ointments; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin