title: The protective effect of cilostazol on transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transverse Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous (TRAM) flap is commonly used in breast reconstruction. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the effects of cilostazol on TRAM flap viability in a rat TRAM model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four Wistar rats were used. They were divided into four groups. Rats in Group 1 were applied TRAM flap. In Group 2, cilostazol 30 mg/kg was administered to rats via oral gavage 3 hours before the flap surgery. After the flap surgery, cilostazol 30 mg/kg was administered via oral gavage twice a day for 7 days. In Group 3 before the flap surgery, cilostazol 30 mg/kg was administered via oral gavage twice a day for 7 days, and treatment continued for 7 more days after the flap surgery. In Group 4 before the flap surgery, cilostazol 30 mg/kg was administered via oral gavage twice a day for 7 days and treatment was discontinued after the flap surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean necrosis rate in Group 1 was 41.69%, in Group 2 it was 27.0%, in Group 3 it was 6.66%, and in Group 4 it was 11.2%. The necrosis rate in Group 1 was found to be statistically significantly higher than other groups (p < .01), the necrosis rate in Group 2 was found to be statistically significant higher than Groups 3 and 4 (p < .01), and the necrosis rate in Group 4 was found to be statistically significant higher than Group 3 (p < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cilostazol treatment seemed to increase the viability of TRAM flap, especially when administered as adjuvant therapy.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Plastic Surgery , Uşak Medical Park Hospital , Uşak , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayfer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Özdemir
authors.affiliation: b Department of Plastic Surgery , Namik Kemal University , Tekirdağ , Turkey.
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Orhan
authors.affiliation: c Department of Plastic Surgery , Fırat University , Elazığ , Turkey.
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Altun
authors.affiliation: d Department of Plastic Surgery , Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Research and Education Hospital , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: İnözü
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000077407:Cilostazol; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D023421:Models, Animal; D064827:Myocutaneous Flap; D009336:Necrosis; D058987:Phosphodiesterase 3 Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000637:transplantation; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D058987:Phosphodiesterase 3 Inhibitors; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000077407:Cilostazol
keywords: TRAM flap; cilostazol; flap viability