title: A single postoperative application of nitroglycerin ointment does not increase survival of cutaneous flaps and grafts.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Shadyside Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Brodland
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Griego
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Huether
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Zitelli
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D009824:Ointments; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin