title: PRP&F/P MPs improved survival of dorsal paired pedicle skin flaps in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Skin flap necrosis is a problem encountered postoperatively. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of platelet-rich plasma containing fragmin/protamine microparticles (PRP&F/P MPs) on viability in a rat dorsal paired pedicle skin (DPPS) flap.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two symmetrical adjoining rectangular flaps (8 × 2 cm each) were drawn on the rat dorsum. Two days after PRP&F/P MPs-, PRP-, F/P MPs-, and saline (control)-injections (n = 8 each), flaps were elevated as a random pattern flap without the lateral thoracic, posterior intercostal, and deep circumflex iliac vessels. The flaps were immediately sutured back and the flap survival area was measured 7 d after flap elevation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The flap survival rate in PRP&F/P MPs-injected groups (73.1% ± 4.2%) was significantly higher than those in PRP (64.9% ± 4.0%), F/P MPs (59.4 ± 4.5%), and control (61.2% ± 4.2%) groups. Histologic observation of the flaps showed survived thick granulation tissue and neovascularization in PRP&F/P MPs-injected groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When PRP&F/P MPs are administered 2 d before the flap elevation, the improved flap survivals are observed. The pre-injection of PRP&F/P MPs may thus represent a promising treatment to prevent skin flap necrosis in reconstructive surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takikawa
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sumi
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: Satoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yanagibayashi
authors.forename: Hidemi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Tomoharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kiyosawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017985:Dalteparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D011479:Protamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000502:physiology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D011479:Protamines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D017985:Dalteparin