Lateral thoracic artery perforator-based flap: a new experimental model.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to describe a new experimental perforator-based flap in rats, supplied by lateral thoracic artery perforator.


METHODS
Through out the study, two control and two experimental groups were created consisting of six rats in each group. In the first control group (group 1), mid-axillary line and the fourth intercostal space intersection were used as the center of the flap. A 3 × 2 cm flap was designed and elevated above the cutaneous maximus muscle by transecting all connections with the muscle. In the second control group (group 2), the flap was extended caudally, and 3 × 6 cm flap was designed. Then, the flap was elevated in the same manner as it was described for group 1. In the first experimental group (group 3) 3 × 2 cm flap and in the second experimental group (group 4) 3 × 6 cm flap were designed like control groups. The flaps were islanded on a single musculocutan perforator arising from lateral thoracic artery. The surviving skin paddle areas were calculated on postoperative day 7.


RESULTS
The flap viability was calculated 0% for control groups (groups 1 and 2), 100% for the first experimental group (group 3), between 33.3% and 37.7% for the second experimental group (group 4; mean ± standard deviation, 34.76% ± 1.92%).


CONCLUSIONS
This new lateral thoracic artery perforator-based flap has a constant anatomy and reliable survival pattern. Also, easy harvesting and the possibility of designing two flaps per animal make this new flap an appealing model for pathophysiological or pharmacologic researches.
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Agrı State Hospital, Agrı, Turkey.
Ulas
U
Bali
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Izmir Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: melike_yazoglu@yahoo.com.
Melike
M
Gungor
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey.
Levent
L
Yoleri
D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013895:Thoracic Arteries / Q000601:surgery*
Lateral thoracic artery perforator; Perforator flap model