title: Enhanced random skin flap survival by sustained delivery of fibroblast growth factor 2 in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Skin flap survival is a major challenge in reconstructive plastic surgery. Here, we examined the effect of sustained delivery of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) using heparin-conjugated fibrin (HCF) on skin flap survival in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats with a skin flap received either phosphate-buffered saline/FGF2 or HCF/FGF2 in the recipient bed. For the no-treatment group, a random skin flap was sutured on the back without any treatment. Seven days after surgery, angiogenesis in the skin flap was evaluated by using Visitrak system and conventional healing quality scoring method. The efficacy of HCF/FGF2 in skin flap survival was evaluated by comparing the results from different groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The necrotic area of the skin flap significantly decreased in the HCF/FGF2 group as compared with the other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sustained delivery of FGF2 using HCF has a therapeutic potential to improve skin flap survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyoung Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seahyoung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyo Hwa
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Chan Yeong
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Ji Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hee Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Byung-Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D005340:Fibrinogen; D006493:Heparin