title: Effect of natural hirudin on random pattern skin flap survival in a porcine model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effect of local administration of hirudin on random pattern skin flap survival was investigated in a porcine model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three random pattern skin flaps (4 × 14 cm) were created on each flank of five Chinese minipigs. The experimental group (10 flaps) received  20 antithrombin units of hirudin, injected subdermally into the distal half immediately after surgery and on days 1 and 2; a control group (10 flaps) was injected with saline and a sham group (10 flaps) was not injected. All flaps were followed for 10 days postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Macroscopically,  the congested/necrotic length in the experimental group was significantly decreased compared with the other two groups by day 3. Histopathological evaluation revealed venous congestion and inflammation in the control and sham groups from day 1, but minimal changes in the experimental group.  By day 10, the mean ± SD surviving area was significantly greater in the experimental group (67.6 ± 2.1%) than in the control (45.2 ± 1.4%) or sham (48.3 ± 1.1%) groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Local administration of hirudin can significantly increase the surviving area in  overdimensioned random pattern skin flaps, in a porcine model.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Zhao
authors: Q
authors: Q
authors: Shi
authors: Z Y
authors: ZY
authors: Sun
authors: G Q
authors: GQ
authors: Yin
authors: H L
authors: HL
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000991:Antithrombins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006629:Hirudins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D007249:Inflammation; D009336:Necrosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012867:Skin; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000991:Antithrombins; D006629:Hirudins