Laser-Doppler examination of the blood supply in pericranial flaps.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this investigation was to determine if there is evidence suggestive of blood flow within pericranial flaps.


METHODS
An index of blood flow using laser-Doppler blood flowmetry was obtained in pericranial flaps from 10 patients who were undergoing a coronal flap for reconstructive procedures. The data were analyzed using fast Fourier transformation to indicate the presence or absence of blood flow.


RESULTS
All but 1 pericranial flap showed evidence of blood flow within. Most flaps had blood flow even several centimeters distal to the origin of the flaps' pedicles.


CONCLUSIONS
The data clearly indicate that pericranial flaps contain at least some blood flow. However, the quantity of blood flow could not be assessed using this technology.
Miles
Brett
B
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Davis
Scott
S
Crandall
Craig
C
Ellis
Edward
E
D000328:Adult; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010521:Periosteum / Q000098:blood supply; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D019291:Skull Base / Q000601:surgery; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D055815:Young Adult