title: Evaluation of primary critical ischemia time for the deep circumflex iliac cutaneous flap in cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the primary critical ischemia time for the deep circumflex iliac (DCI) cutaneous flap in cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vivo model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen young adult female cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  An island skin flap was created on the right side of each cat based on the angiosome of the ventral branches of the DCI vessels. The cats were randomly assigned to a flap ischemia time ranging from 1 to 3 hours in 10-minute intervals. Microvascular clamps were used to occlude the artery and vein for the designated time. Flaps were sutured into position after the ischemic period. On day 3, fluorescein dye was administered and the flaps were evaluated under ultraviolet light to assess percent area of perfusion. On days 7 and 14, the percent area of survival was determined for each flap based on cutaneous morphometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All flaps had 100 percent area of survival throughout the study. On day 3, all flaps fluoresced uniformly compared with the surrounding skin. On days 7 and 14, all flaps were uniformly viable as confirmed by skin color, consistency, bleeding, and hair re-growth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DCI cutaneous flap in cats can withstand up to 3 hours of ischemia with predictable survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a clinical setting, high success rates can be expected with microvascular transfer of the DCI cutaneous flap in cats when the ischemia time is <3 hours and precise surgical technique is used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. teunisse@cvm.msu.edu
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Teunissen
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walshaw
authors.forename: Joe G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hauptman
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Degner
authors.forename: Andrew H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000662:veterinary; D015424:Reperfusion / Q000662:veterinary; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply / Q000662:veterinary*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome