The influence of postoperative pharmacological vasodilator agents on the pattern of necrosis in a standardised rat skin flap

Abstract An experimental dorsal rat skin flap which produces a consistent pattern of necrosis is described. As judged by the area of necrosis in this flap, short post-operative courses of several vasodilator agents failed to increase flap survival. However it is not possible to conclude from this that those agents did not influence small vessel blood flow. Necrotic flaps in rats may not be the most appropriate models in which to test the effect of vasodilator agents.