title: Helium-neon laser in viability of random skin flap in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the role of helium-neon (He-Ne) laser random skin flap viability in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimentally controlled randomized study. Forty-eight Wistar-EPM rats were used, weighed, and divided into 4 groups with 12 rats each. The random skin flap was performed measuring 10 x 4 cm, with a plastic sheet interposed between the flap and the donor site. The Group 1 (control) underwent sham irradiation with He-Ne laser. The Group 2 was submitted to laser irradiation, using the punctual contact technique on the skin flap surface. The Group 3 was submitted to laser irradiation surrounding the skin flap, and the Group 4 was submitted to laser irradiation both on the skin flap surface and around it. The experimental groups were submitted to He-Ne laser irradiation with 3 J/cm(2) energy density immediately after the surgery and for the four subsequent days. The percentage of necrotic area of the four groups was calculated at the 7th post-operative day, through a paper-template method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group 1 reached an average necrotic area of 48.86%; Group 2, 38.67%; Group 3, 35.34%; and Group 4, 22.61%. After the statistic analysis, results showed that all experimental groups reached statistically significant values when compared to the control group, and Group 4 was the best one, when compared to all groups of this study (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The He-Ne laser irradiation was efficient to increase random skin flap viability in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, São Paulo Federal University-UNIFESP-EPM, Aracaju Street 1352, São Paulo 15801-0250, Brazil. cepinfildi@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Carlos E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Pinfildi
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Liebano
authors.forename: Bernardo S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Hochman
authors.forename: Lydia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006371:Helium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009356:Neon / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005741:Noble Gases / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D014022:Tissue Survival / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D005741:Noble Gases; D006371:Helium; D009356:Neon