What’s the remedy for the distal necrosis of DIEP flap, better venous drain or more arterial supply?

BACKGROUND: We developed a novel pedicled DIEP flap model in rat to explore the possible remedy for the distal necrosis of the flap. METHODS: A deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap, based on the second right cranial perforator (P2) as the main pedicle, was elevated in 48 Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were randomized into 4 groups: group I, the left P2 remaining intact as supercharging; group II, the left P2 artery alone kept as supercharging; group III, the left P2 vein alone kept as supercharging; group IV, no supercharging. Transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO(2)) and transcutaneous carbon dioxide pressure (TcPCO(2)) were measured immediately after flap elevation, protein level of Hif-1a was measured 48 hours later, and flap survival was assessed 7 days postoperatively. RESULTS: Blockade of artery led to significantly lower TcPO(2), higher TcPCO(2), and higher expression level of Hif-1a in the distal side of the flap in group III and group IV, than those of group I and group II. At 7 days post surgery, significantly lower flap survival rates were observed in group III (81.9 ± 5.7%) and group IV (78.4 ± 6.5%), compared to observed in group I (97.2 ± 3.0%) and group II (94.2 ± 6.2%). CONCLUSIONS: It might be arterial insufficiency, not venous congestion, which mainly caused the distal necrosis of the DIEP flap in rat. Arterial instead of venous supercharging might be a more effective procedure that improves circulation to zone IV of the flap.